What are medical conditions or complications that occur during hospital stays, which were not present at admission, called?

Medical conditions or complications that arise during a patient's hospital stay and were not present at the time of their admission are referred to as hospital-acquired conditions. These conditions, sometimes abbreviated as HACs, can significantly impact patient health outcomes, length of hospital stays, and healthcare costs. Identifying and addressing these conditions is crucial for improving overall patient care and ensuring proper reimbursement from insurance providers, as many insurers now pay less or refuse to pay for treatment related to preventable hospital-acquired conditions.

In contrast, the other options refer to different concepts in healthcare. Resource utilization groups are categories used to determine reimbursement for healthcare services based on the resources used. Medical diagnostic categories are classifications of diseases for reporting and funding purposes, while case-mix index relative weights are used to measure the complexity and cost of patient care based on various diagnoses and treatments. These terms do not specifically address the complications that develop as a direct result of hospitalization.