Despite the apparent similarities between Day Care and Outpatient treatments, the main point of difference lies at the level of hospitalization and time of stay in hospital. In a Day Care procedure, patient should be hospitalized for the treatment less than a day. The operation is then carried out and the patient is kept in the ward for observation for a few hours. Patient is discharged usually in less than 6 hours after ensuring that he/she has recovered satisfactorily and received adequate treatment. Post-operational medication and clear instructions are given when the patient is discharged.
OPD treatments do not require hospitalization. Patient simply walk into a hospital or a clinic and get the treatment done without being admitted for it. Even in case of day care treatments, it is explicitly mentioned that if the treatment is done on an outpatient basis, i.e. without being hospitalized. FMC enables patients to receive surgical treatment without being admitted into the hospital.