---
title: "IPD Admission"
description: "How to admit a patient to IPD — from OPD or direct admission, bed assignment, initial charting, and admission billing setup."
date: 2026-07-19
lastModified: 2026-07-19
category: "ipd"
author: "Dr. Umesh Bilagi"
beta: true
---

## Overview

IPD (Inpatient Department) admission moves a patient from OPD or direct admission into a hospital bed for ongoing care. NICE HMS manages the full admission workflow: bed assignment, treating doctor assignment, admission notes, and billing setup.

## Admission Pathways

### Pathway 1: Admit from OPD

When an OPD consultation determines the patient needs admission:
1. In the patient's OPD encounter, click **Admit**.
2. The OPD status changes to "Admitted."
3. Proceed to the admission form (details below).

### Pathway 2: Direct Admission

When a patient is admitted directly without a prior OPD visit:
1. Register the patient if new. See [Adding New Patients](/docs/adding-new-patients).
2. From the patient management page, click **New IPD Admission**.

## Admission Form

Fill in the admission details:

| Field | Description |
|-------|------------|
| **Admission Date & Time** | When the patient is admitted |
| **Treating Doctor** | Primary doctor responsible for the patient |
| **Bed/Ward** | Assign a bed from the available list |
| **Admission Type** | Emergency / Planned / MLC (Medico-Legal Case) |
| **Diagnosis** | Provisional or confirmed diagnosis at admission |
| **Room Category** | General Ward / Semi-Private / Private / ICU (affects billing) |

## Bed Assignment

NICE HMS shows real-time bed availability:
- **Green** — Available
- **Red** — Occupied
- **Yellow** — Reserved / Cleaning / Maintenance

Select an available bed. The bed status changes to "Occupied" upon admission.

## Admission Notes

Record the admission notes including:
- Chief complaints
- History of present illness
- Past medical history
- Vitals at admission (BP, pulse, temperature, SpO2, respiratory rate)
- Physical examination findings

These notes form the foundation of the IPD chart.

## Billing Setup

On admission, the billing module is initialized:
- **Room charges** — Based on room category, calculated daily
- **Advance payment** — Record any advance collected at admission
- **TPA/Insurance** — If applicable, link the insurance plan for NHCX pre-auth

## What Happens Next

After admission:
1. The patient appears in the **IPD census** and the treating doctor's **My Patients > IPD** tab.
2. Nurses begin **daily charting** (vital signs, medication administration, clinical notes).
3. Doctors create **IPD prescriptions** and progress notes.
4. Lab and radiology orders are placed from within the IPD encounter.

See also: [IPD Bed Transfer](/docs/ipd-bed-transfer) and [IPD Discharge](/docs/ipd-discharge).

## FAQ

**Q: Can I change the bed after admission?**
A: Yes. Use the bed transfer feature. See [IPD Bed Transfer](/docs/ipd-bed-transfer).

**Q: How is the admission number generated?**
A: Each organization has an auto-incrementing IPD admission counter (ipdMaxId). The admission ID is unique per organization.

**Q: What's an MLC admission?**
A: Medico-Legal Case — flagged for cases requiring police/legal documentation (accidents, assaults, etc.). Marking as MLC triggers additional documentation requirements.