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When we are seeking addiction treatment for ourselves or a loved one, terms like “outpatient” and “inpatient” may seem confusing. You may find yourself asking: What exactly do “outpatient” and “inpatient” even mean? Why are they called that? Is it better to get outpatient vs inpatient care?
Inpatient care can be thought of as spending time solely “in” treatment, both day and night. Inpatient treatments like detox and rehab are often the most intensive, thorough treatment options offered by treatment facilities.
The person in inpatient care is monitored by a team of mental health and medical professionals to assure their needs are being met. A person in detox may be going through withdrawal symptoms and need additional medical support for their safety, comfort, and well-being.
Outpatient care allows for less time spent in treatment, with no overnights required, and more time spent “out” in the world. Those in outpatient care may be attending individual or group therapy sessions weekly or several times a week. A person in outpatient care has the opportunity to return home each night and enjoy the comforts of their own bed and home.
We will further discuss the differences between inpatient and outpatient care. We will also discuss the many inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment options available at Serenity Lane in Oregon, such as detox, residential treatment, day treatment or a partial hospitalization program, and outpatient treatment programs.
Inpatient addiction treatment, sometimes called residential treatment, is day and night care provided to medically stabilize a person, orient them to mental health and addiction counseling, and continue to monitor them for growth and progress during their stay.
Inpatient care is an appropriate level of care for those struggling with severe to moderate addiction. It’s also better for those who need to get away from the addiction triggers in their daily life. Examples of inpatient addiction treatment include detox and rehab.
Outpatient care, also called ambulatory care, occurs when a service or treatment does not require temporarily living at the facility. Outpatient addiction treatment is considered to be a “step down” from inpatient care as the person is getting closer and closer to living a normal lifestyle and accomplishing their treatment goals.
Outpatient care is an appropriate level of care for those struggling with mild to moderate addiction. Outpatient care may include individual or group therapy for participants to attend on a weekly or multiple times a week basis.
According to “An Overview of Outpatient and Inpatient Detoxification,” by Dr. Motoi Hayashida, M.D., the advantages of outpatient care are that patients can continue to function relatively normally, maintain employment, and continue family and social relationships.
Compared with inpatient programs, those in outpatient treatment have greater freedom, are able to continue to work and maintain day-to-day activities with fewer disruptions, and often have fewer treatment costs.
According to the Medical University of the Americas, a huge advantage of outpatient care is that it is almost always less expensive than inpatient care. One night of inpatient hospital care can increase the cost of your treatment by thousands of dollars.
In outpatient care, people have the ability to get better while enjoying the comfort of their own homes. At home, they can enjoy resting and recovering in a familiar setting with their family, friends, and pets all nearby. It can be comforting to enjoy home-cooked food and get a good night’s sleep in one’s own bed.
Home conditions can be more ideal than inpatient settings. At the treatment center, it can be an unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and disruptive living environment. Beds may be uncomfortable, there may be noisy medical equipment buzzing and beeping, neighboring patients and visitors may be making loud noises, too, and lights can be on at all times of the day and night.
For those living in Oregon, outpatient care may be most enjoyable for those that love the outdoors, sunshine, and hiking or walking. Oregon is a beautiful place to enjoy the great outdoors.
There is a greater risk of relapse in outpatient care in comparison with inpatient care. For example, if someone is struggling with alcohol use, they will have greater access to alcohol in the outpatient setting in comparison with the inpatient setting.
In outpatient care, participants are not being continually monitored. With greater freedom comes greater responsibility placed upon the person in care. For some, this self-monitoring can be a challenge.
Serenity Lane offers medically supported detox at their inpatient treatment facility in Coburg, Oregon. Medically supported detox may be necessary when withdrawing from substances such as alcohol. Our professional staff will evaluate you and determine if this level of care would best meet your needs.
Serenity Lane offers short-term as well as extended, long-term residential treatment. This may be a good option for someone suffering from severe addiction or chronic relapse.
At Serenity Lane, the next step down from detox and residential care is day treatment or partial hospitalization. Our partial hospitalization program is structured as a five to seven days per week program that can last up to six or eight hours per day. We offer day treatment at our Coburg, Oregon, location.
Serenity Lane offers two levels of outpatient programming at seven locations throughout Oregon.
Serenity Lane’s Level II intensive outpatient program (IOP treatment) is 10 weeks of comprehensive treatment that includes group therapy, individual counseling, and education about the topic of addiction. Treatment groups meet for three hours three times per week.
Serenity Lane’s Level I outpatient program meets for a 1.5-hour weekly session to learn how to identify and better manage stressful life events, as well as how to apply relapse prevention techniques.
Serenity Lane helps treat addiction to a variety of substances, including but not limited to: alcohol, heroin, cocaine, and meth.
If you or your loved one is in need of addiction treatment services, Serenity Lane is here to help. Please call (800) 543-9905 today to begin your addiction treatment journey toward recovery.
Why is outpatient care better than inpatient?
There are certain advantages of opting for outpatient care instead of inpatient care when possible. In outpatient care, people have the ability to get better in the comfort of their own homes. At home, they can enjoy resting and recovering in a familiar setting with their family, friends, and pets all nearby. It can be comforting to enjoy home-cooked food and get a good night’s sleep in one’s own bed. Home conditions can be more ideal than inpatient settings. At the treatment center, it can be an unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and disruptive living environment. Beds may not be ideal, there may be noisy medical equipment buzzing and beeping, neighboring patients and visitors may be making loud noises, and lights can be on at all times of the day and night.
A huge advantage of outpatient care is that it is almost always less expensive than inpatient care. One night of inpatient hospital care can increase the cost of treatment by thousands of dollars. For those living in Oregon, outpatient care may be most enjoyable for those that love the outdoors, sunshine, and hiking or walking. Oregon is a beautiful place to enjoy the great outdoors.
What is considered outpatient?
Outpatient care, also called ambulatory care, occurs when a service or treatment does not require temporarily living at the facility. Outpatient care allows for less time spent in treatment, with no overnights required, and more time spent “out” in the world. Those in outpatient care may be attending individual or group therapy sessions weekly or several times a week. There is the opportunity for a person in outpatient care to return home and enjoy the comforts of their own bed and home. Outpatient addiction treatment is considered to be a “step down” from inpatient care as the person is getting closer and closer to living a normal lifestyle and accomplishing their treatment goals.
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