outpatient episode

outpatient episode

The care provided in the UK by a “consultant within a specialty” to an outpatient over a period of time, which consists of one or more contacts between the patient and consultant or a member of his or her team. The episode is initiated either by an outpatient referral (new outpatient), or by an inpatient episode, and the patient is known as a follow-up (return) outpatient. Outpatient episodes usually take place at clinics (care sessions) but may take place outside of clinics at any location—for example, during a home visit or bedside consultation.