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When you have cancer, you can receive care in an inpatient or outpatient setting, depending on what you need. Learn more about care in the inpatient and outpatient settings and their different roles in cancer care.

Inpatient care for people with cancer

For inpatient care, you are admitted to the hospital or a facility and are given around-the-clock care by licensed health care workers. You will usually stay there for at least one night.  Sometimes, inpatient admission is planned, such as going into the hospital to have chemotherapy (chemo) or surgery. Other times, such as for an unexpected emergency, injury, or illness, it’s not.

Where is inpatient care given?

Inpatient care is given in:

• Hospitals
• Inpatient rehab facilities
• Inpatient mental health facilities
• Long-term care hospitals or long-term acute care hospitals
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Inpatient hospice facilities

In the past, most people got cancer treatment as inpatients. But now, more cancer care can be given in the outpatient setting.  Sometimes, your insurance may determine which care you receive as an inpatient.

People with cancer may be admitted to inpatient care for different reasons. Some examples are for:

• Chemo or other cancer-related treatment that can’t be given outpatient and requires close monitoring
• A stem cell or bone marrow transplant
• Treatment for an infection or illness
• Surgery to remove cancer or for reconstructive surgery after your cancer surgery
• Management of symptoms/side effects related to cancer or treatment like pain, nausea, fatigue, or shortness of breath.
• Blood product transfusions when extra monitoring is needed during transfusions
• If you can’t care for yourself at home

Outpatient care for people with cancer

Outpatient care is usually given on the same day and you are not admitted or required to spend the night in a hospital or facility. You may also hear it called ambulatory care.

Where is outpatient care given?

Outpatient care is given in:

• Outpatient rehab centers
• Your home through home health, the Hospital-at-Home program, hospice, or palliative care
• Outpatient cancer centers
• Community oncology offices
• Outpatient surgery centers
• Outpatient mental health treatment centers
• Dialysis centers
• Outpatient radiology centers or department at your hospital
• Freestanding emergency room (ER)
• Urgent care center

Since more cancer care has been moved to be given in the outpatient setting, people with cancer will be able to complete a lot of their cancer care outside the hospital. Sometimes, your type of cancer or insurance plan will dictate whether you can get certain cancer care in the outpatient setting. Check with your cancer care team and insurance plan to see where your cancer care will be given.

Being able to get cancer care outside of the hospital can:

• Decrease costs
• Avoid unplanned hospital visits
• Improve your cancer experience
• Decrease the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
• Give you more control over your treatment schedule

Outpatient care for people with cancer may include:

• Chemo, targeted therapy, or other infusions or injections in the infusion center
• Visits with your cancer care team or supportive care team
• Home visits with a nurse, social worker, or therapist while recovering from a hospital stay
• Home hospice visits
• Home palliative care visits
• Virtual visits (telehealth) with your cancer care team, specialists, or doctors for a second opinion
• Hospital-at-home after discharge from the hospital
• Stem cell or bone marrow transplants if your health plan allows.
• Blood product transfusions
• Radiation therapy
• Visits for lab tests, imaging tests, or biopsies