The patient may be discharged from observation care to inpatient care or to the patient’s home depending on if he or she meets the extended observation criteria. If the patient is being discharged home, a discharge order will suffice. If sent to the ICU or acute care ward, an inpatient order will be needed. If the patient is going to a skilled nursing facility, a discharge order and an admit order for the skilled facility will be required and the patient must have spent at least 3 days in a row as an inpatient to qualify for skilled nursing facility admittance (CMS, 2014). The three consecutive days must have been as an inpatient not counting the day of discharge.