@Agota_Meszaros , thank you for your question regarding mapping visit types.
I understand your concern about the number of distinct concepts and the challenge of selecting the most appropriate one for your specific scenario. Allow me to provide some clarification on the differences between “Outpatient Hospital” in the CMS Place of Service vocabulary and “Ambulatory Clinic / Center” in the NUCC vocabulary, along with their definitions:
- Outpatient Hospital (CMS Place of Service Vocabulary):
- This concept represents healthcare services provided within a hospital setting to patients who do not require inpatient admission.
- Outpatient hospital services may include outpatient surgeries, diagnostic imaging, laboratory tests, emergency department visits, outpatient consultations, infusion therapy, and specialized treatments.
- Patients visiting outpatient hospital departments receive care from hospital-affiliated healthcare professionals and have access to hospital resources and infrastructure.
- Ambulatory Clinic / Center (NUCC Vocabulary):
- Ambulatory clinics or centers primarily offer outpatient care, providing a wide range of medical services without hospitalization.
- These facilities may specialize in various medical specialties, such as primary care, specialty care, urgent care, diagnostic services, preventive care, and rehabilitation services.
- Ambulatory clinics or centers are standalone or part of larger healthcare systems, offering accessible and convenient healthcare services to patients with flexible appointment scheduling.
You can find more information regarding visits here: New Comprehensive Hierarchy for Providers, Visits (and Place of Service, Specialty, Care Site)