What is the full form of OPD?

What is OPD?

OPD stands for Outpatient Department. Hospitals have been providing their services for the past many years and saving the lives of patients. Hospitals help patients to get rid of various diseases whether they are minor or major and life-threatening. Hospitals have many departments like nursing, surgery, radiology, etc. One such department is OPD which is a link between the hospital staff and the outpatient. Patients or their guardians contact OPD and enquire about doctors who can treat the patient.

Patients or guardians have to make payment for a consultation so that the concerned doctor can check the patient and prescribe tests and medicines. If the injury or illness is minor, it can be easily handled at the OPD with the help of necessary equipment available here. Minor surgeries can also be conducted at OPDs.

Types of OPDs

OPD is of many types and they are related to different types of illnesses. We will discuss these OPDs in detail.

Primary Care Clinic

Primary care clinics are the parts of a hospital where patients consult a physician and all the tests are conducted if required. The physician has the right to send the patient to a specialist if required. Family doctors, nutritionists, gynecologists, ENT doctors, etc. come under a physician.

Community Clinic

Community clinics can be accessed by those people who do not have enough funds to visit a healthcare clinic. People without health insurance, migrants, and workers can access these clinics.

Urgent Care Center

Urgent Care Centers are also known as emergency wards and people suffering from critical conditions that are not life-threatening but need urgent treatment come to this clinic. Illnesses and injuries are treated in these clinics. As there are no emergency rooms the workload of workers is reduced.

Specialized Outpatient Clinic

Patients who suffer from a specific illness and need to be attended by a specialist can come to this clinic. Patients having illnesses related to cardiology, nephrology, pain management, etc. are treated in this clinic.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy is available in the hospital from where patients can purchase medicines prescribed by their doctor or physician. Pharmacies also let the patients know the dosage and timings of consuming the given medicines. Patients can also go to pharmacies for measuring blood pressure and heart rate.

Emergency Department

The emergency department is also known as the emergency room and it is available in each hospital. This department has the responsibility of providing immediate treatment to the patients who are in a critical condition. Doctors, nurses, and other staff are experts in their fields.

Types of OPD Services

OPD provides different types of services and some of them are as follows −

Wellness and Prevention

Patients who come to OPD are told about the wellness and measures to be taken to avoid certain types of health issues. Doctors tell the patients about the things which they can practice to lose the extra weight and maintain their sugar balance.

Diagnosis

A patient and doctors meet at OPD and issues faced by the patient are discussed. If a test is necessary, the doctor suggests them else medicines are prescribed along with dosage. OPD is the place where all the tests are conducted.

Treatment

Minor surgeries and treatment are conducted at OPD. Now the OPD has become modern and consists of all the equipment necessary for treatment of the minor injuries and surgeries such as cuts and wounds.

Things to Remember While Visiting an OPD

Here are the things that people need to remember while visiting the OPD −

OPD Timings

The first thing that the visitors have to take into account is the timing when the OPD opens. The timing of OPD depends on the hospital and each hospital has a different time for the opening of OPD. Usually, the timings of OPD are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. This is the time when getting an appointment is easy.

OPD Slots

OPD slots are available in some hospitals and an appointment is provided if a particular doctor is available. There are a few time slots in which specialist doctors are available. Common physicians are available so getting an appointment is easy.

Appointment Booking

Patients or guardians have to book an appointment if they have to consult with a specialist doctor. Appointments can be booked with the help of calls, emails, or other online methods. If the condition of the patient is severe, the receptionist at the OPD shall be contacted to book an appointment.

Process Followed in an OPD

When a patient enters an OPD he or she has to go through the following process −

The first thing is test and screening which are conducted at the OPD
He or she is sent to a doctor for consultation
Staff at the OPD gives a new file to the new patient
Payments are based on follow-up or new consultation

Difference Between IPD and OPD

OPD stands for Outpatient Department while IPD stands for Inpatient Department. Patients visit the OPD where initial diagnoses are conducted and no admission in the hospital is required. In the case of the Inpatient Department, patients are admitted for one or more days depending on the level of injury or illness from which they are suffering. Patients who come with critical health conditions are admitted in the inpatient department. Treatment provided by OPD can end within a few hours.

Advantages of OPD

OPD has many advantages and some of them are listed below −

The money and time of the patients are saved
Beneficial for people living in rural areas
Treatment is easy as there is no need to admit the patient
Patient is satisfied
Healthcare cost is reduced

Conclusion

OPD stands for Outpatient Department. This is a place where patients can be connected to hospital staff. If there is a minor injury or health issue, it can be attended at the OPD only. This saves time and money of the patients OPD has many equipment also which can be used for minor surgery.