Do not hospitalize order is best described as?

• A. It prevents all treatment.
• B. It indicates hospitalization is not appropriate.
• C. It requires no physician involvement.
• D. It is the same as a DNR.

Answer: (B)

Do-not-hospitalize focuses on where and how care is delivered, not on every possible treatment. It communicates that transferring the patient to a hospital for acute interventions isn’t appropriate given the goals of care, prognosis, or patient preferences, so care should continue in the current setting with a emphasis on comfort and symptom management. It does not block all treatment—manageable symptoms, comfort measures, and in-place therapies can still be provided as appropriate. Implementing this order usually involves a physician’s input and documentation and is distinct from a do-not-resuscitate order, which concerns whether to perform CPR if the patient’s heart or breathing stops.