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OPD - Outpatient Department ← Prev Next →
GDP
Over the years, hospitals have been crucial to
NGO
ED humans as they help people lead healthy lives.
CDS Through their service, hospitals save people
WIFI from various diseases, which even include
DRDO life-threatening diseases. Different
MBBS
departments of hospitals efficiently contribute
CEO
to the success of any hospital. The major
CID
CNG departments in the hospital are Dietary
CPU department, Inpatient service (IP),
OPD Medical department, Nursing department,
ICSE
Operation theatre (OT), Outpatient
IPS
department (OPD), Rehabilitation
IAS
KYC
department, Radiology department, and Paramedical department. The
PhD outpatient department is the first intermediary between a patient and the
IPS hospital staff. A patient first comes to the OPD for inspection and then the
PCOD doctors from the OPD refer him/her to the respective departments of
CV
treatment according to the patient needs.
PWD
NEFT
RT-PCR
What is an OPD?
DSP
ICU OPD is the short form of the Outpatient Department. It is the section of any
NCB hospital where the patients that require medical attention are treated. People
NTPC need to pay consultation charges, and the doctor will visit the patient to
ATP conduct the necessary check-up. The doctor examines the patient, conducts
IMPS
necessary tests, and prescribes medication and treatment on the basis of the
SDM
health condition of the patient.
GPS - Global Positioning
System
Hospitals have OPD wards for providing attention to the patients and
GST - Goods and Service Tax
B.Sc - Bachelor of Science conducting medical treatment.The minor surgeries and treatments can be
BCA - Bachelor of Computer easily conducted in the OPDs. It is not necessary to admit a patient to the
Application hospital for surgeries and treatment. Moreover, modern OPDs have the
NCC - National Cadet Corps
necessary equipment and facilities to conduct surgeries, medical tests, and
CCTV
diagnoses.
NDA
UNESCO
API - Application Programming
Interface
ITI - Industrial Training
Institute
NDA
IPO
HTML
CBSE
HDFC
ISO
UPS
Difference between Outpatient and Inpatient
IIT
ICT - Information and Department
Communications Technology
HRD Although both departments have different roles and functions, both are
MCA extremely important for any hospital. The outpatient department provides the
MD initial diagnoses. Patient visits the OPD of hospitals for treatment. The patient
B.Com - Bachelor of
is not required to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. Generally, OPD
Commerce
IES - Indian Engineering takes minor cases for treatment. However, the inpatient departments admit
Services the patient for one or more days according to the severity of the illness and
B.C. the time required for treatment. Inpatient departments admit patients with
B. Ed
more severe medical conditions as compared to OPD patients.
B.Tech
NRI
NOC
PPT
KFC
IFS
SSB - Services Selection Board
Hence, the outpatient department provides a treatment that can be completed
within a few hours, and there is no requirement for patient admission.
Services Provided by the OPD
OPDs provide all general services and facilities which are necessary for any
hospital. OPDs act as the first step for consulting the doctor and getting the
tests done to proceed with treatment. Through the services provided in OPD,
the hospital works for the smooth functioning of the healthcare system. These
services are classified as -
Prevention and wellness -
OPDs provide guidance to the patients for overall wellness and
prevention of health issues. Doctors guide patients to maintain a healthy
weight, improve sleep, balance sugar levels, etc.
Diagnosis -
OPD is the first place where the patient and doctor meet and discuss
the patient's health condition. After discussing the issue, the doctor
suggests the necessary tests for the patient. The lab tests and MRI
scans are conducted in the OPD.
Treatment -
Treatment and minor surgeries can be done in the outpatient
department. Modern OPD has all the necessary equipment to treat a
patient. Surgeries such as cuts, wounds, etc., can be easily handled in
the modern OPD.
Points to consider while visiting an OPD
It is important to know some points before visiting any hospital's OPD. These
points will save your time and will make the treatment more convenient to
access.
OPD Timings
The timing of OPD in any hospital depends on the hospital itself. It varies
from place to place and for every hospital. However, India's most
common OPD timings are 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. This is the best time to book
your appointment and immediately get one.
OPD Slots
Specific slots are also provided in some hospitals. Generally, it is
according to the availability of the doctor. Some specialists visit only
during the specific time slots. However, the common consulting doctor
is always available for the patient.
Booking an appointment in the OPD
Suppose, you want to consult a specialist then you have to book an
appointment with them through call or online. However, you can even
ask the receptionist to book an appointment according to its severity
and health condition.
Searching for the appropriate specialist
It is a difficult job to search for a specialist for your treatment. In such a
case, consult a general doctor who will recommend a specialist if
required.
Types of Outpatient Department
There are different types of OPD like ENT (ear, nose, and throat), paediatric,
skin, and eyes. These types are based on the function and facility they offer.
Several other OPDs are also there, which contribute to the easy working of the
healthcare system. Such types are OPDs are -
1. Primary Care Clinic -
Primary care clinics are facilities where patients consult the physicians.
These physicians conduct tests and direct the patient to specialists
when the need arises. Examples of primary care physicians include
nutritionists, family doctors, gynaecologists, etc. These are regular
doctors that conduct the check-up.
2. Community Clinic
The community health clinic is for the people who cannot access
healthcare. These allow people with low incomes, no health insurance,
workers, or migrants.
3. Urgent Care Centre
The urgent care centre is a clinic that serves the purpose of an
emergency ward. It is for those treatments which require urgent
attention but are not life-threatening. The patients are treated for illness
and injuries without the emergency rooms. Hence the urgent care
centre reduces the workload of the emergency rooms by providing
timely and convenient treatment to the patients.
4. Specialized Outpatient Clinic
Specialized Outpatient Clinic is for the patients suffering from a specific
illness under the specialization like cardiology, nephrology, wound care,
pain management, chemotherapy treatment, and radiation treatment at
specific centres.
5. Pharmacy
Nowadays, a pharmacy functions much beyond what it used to do years
ago. Today, the pharmacy provides preventive measures for health
conditions, possible side effects and other information associated with
the drug, and the readings such as heart rate and blood pressure. These
facilities are provided rather than simply providing medicines to the
patients.
6. Emergency Department
The emergency department is popularly known as emergency rooms,
abbreviated as ER. The emergency department is in every hospital and
provides service to the patients who require immediate treatment and
attention. The staff of the ER department is highlyskilled and includes
doctors, nurses, and radiologists who treat emergency illnesses or
injuries. All these professionals identify the problem and immediately
work on recovering the patient.
Importance of OPD in Healthcare Systems
An Outpatient Department is at the entrance of any hospital. It acts as
the first place where the patients and doctors communicate.
It is a crucial link between the patients and the healthcare system and is
hence inseparable.
It is vital in preventing diseases and ensures fast recovery of the
patient.
It controls the number of patients in the inpatient ward by providing
small surgeries and treatments.
It evaluates the patients, and only those who require a bed or special
care are shifted to the inpatient ward. Thus, saving the number of
occupied beds.
Generally, people that visit for the first time and have minor health are
treated in OPD. Doctors conduct tests, provide consultancy, and give
prescriptions to the patient in the OPD.
Process of Admission in the Outpatient Department
There is a certain process that is to be followed while treating the patients in
the OPD. It includes the following:
1. The patient is screened, and tests are conducted as an initial process.
2. The patients are allotted appointments for consulting a doctor.
3. A new patient must maintain a file that can be issued at reception.
4. A patient is generally charged for consultation on the basis of whether
they are a new patient or it is their follow-up.
Difference between OPD and Emergency
The emergency ward is completely different from the OPD in terms of the
facility and its functioning. OPD is for treating and diagnosing any general
disease or health condition, whereas emergency is for specific conditions like
accidents. The location, treatment, fees, and functioning of both departments
is completely different.
Difference between Day Care and Outpatient
Department
Day Care Treatments -
Day Care treatment is a treatment that usually requires one day. Sometimes
the treatment is even conducted in a few hours with advanced technological
tools. It requires almost a day and is therefore known as Day Care treatment.
Outpatient Department -
Hospitals have OPD wards for providing attention to the patients and
conducting medical treatment. It is not necessary to be admitted to the
hospital for surgeries and treatment.
An outpatient department doesn't require a patient to be admitted for
treatment. The time of hospitalization is the feature of OPD that differentiates
it from the Day Care treatments where the patient is admitted for a day. The
patient is discharged from the hospital if their health improves after a day or
two. The difference between Day Care treatment and the outpatient
department is only in terms of the duration for which the patient is
hospitalized.
For example, a dental surgery after an accident is a Day Care treatment,
whereas a root canal that can be done in a few hours is possible in the
outpatient department.
People need to pay consultation charges, and the doctor will visit the
patient to conduct the necessary check-up. However, the expenses of the
outpatient department are much less as compared to the Day Care
treatments. The charges of other treatment that continue for many days is
greater than the Day Care treatment.
Benefits of OPD
Although OPD is a general ward, it has many benefits compared to the other
hospital departments. Some of the benefits that increase the importance of
OPDs are -
1. Less Expensive -
OPD helps saving money as the patient is not admitted and is not
required to pay for the bed.
2. Does not require admission -
Patients that are treated in OPD do not require to be admitted unless the
condition doesn't improve. Treatment without admitting saves patients
from the stress of being admitted to the hospital.
3. Well-Equipped -
Nowadays, OPDs are well-equipped, and minor surgeries and treatment
can be provided in the OPD. Modern OPDs have all the required
equipment necessary for the initial diagnoses and investigation of the
ailment.
4. Good Service -
The quality of service provided at the OPD is good as the staff is well-
trained. Moreover, the patient can conduct a diagnosis and get
consultancy from a doctor at the same place.
5. Easy Access -
People can easily access medical facilities and practitioners through the
outpatient department. Moreover, the outpatient department fees are
very much affordable.
6. Control communicable diseases -
The outpatient department plays a prominent role in controlling
infectious diseases. It is done through surveillance and tracing the
common diseasing in people with the help of data.
7. Research -
Data from the outpatient department is used for the research purpose.
It is crucial for the developments in the field of medicines and vaccines
that may help in the reduction of common diseases.
8. Practise field -
OPD acts as the practice ground for the new doctors to learn medicine.
It even supports paramedical and nursing staff.
Features of OPD
The main features of OPD which significantly contribute to the healthcare
system operation are listed below:
It acts as the first point where the patient and the healthcare system
interact with each other.
It is the most important step in health promotion and vital in the
prevention of diseases.
The screening is done to find the illness and see whether the patient
needs admission to the hospital.
All patients can easily access the medical practitioners and get the
treatment done.
It facilitates vaccination, common illness, or minor surgeries.
Conclusion
Good service and timely treatment of the patient are necessary for the faster
recovery of the patient. The outpatient department is a crucial first step for
any medical treatment. It helps the patient recover or improves from a certain
health condition. OPD is the section that also provides additional services like
diagnosis, lab tests, precautionary advice, etc. It controls the spread of
infectious diseases and supports functions such as vaccination, etc. Despite
many beneficial functions of the outpatient department, the facilities and the
quality of treatment varies from hospital to hospital. Hence before going to
any OPD, make sure that you check the reviews for the hospital.
Next Topic ICSE: Indian School Certificate Examination
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