OPD Full Form

What is the full form of OPD?

OPD stands for “Outpatient Department.” Where “Outpatient” means a patient who spends his limited time in the hospital without staying overnight. While the term “Department” refers to an area of expertise. Hence, the Outpatient Department is an area in the hospital where patients come for check ups without staying there. It is also known as Outpatient Clinic. Patients pay an amount of payment per visit to the doctor. The fees vary in different hospitals. They first receive screening and then a list of medications that are required to fight the disease. Conditions like: Normal fever, stomach pain, chest pain, etc. can be tested in OPD.

Types of Outpatient Department

Outpatient services include:

• Centralised outpatient services - When all different types of patients are diagnosed and treated in the same compact area, it is called centralised outpatient services.

• Decentralised outpatient services - when services for a specific treatment is provided in their respective departments, it is termed as Decentralised outpatient services.

Outpatient services based on the type of patient:

• General Outpatient service - it provides Primary health care to secondary and tertiary patients.

• Emergency Outpatient service - It is to provide emergency care to patients who suffered with sudden disorder.

• Referred Outpatient service - when a patient takes medical service from one or more hospitals, they are given a letter of referral.

Features of Outpatient Department

• The Outpatient Department is usually located on the down floor, which makes it easier for patients to find the right place to get checked.

• Patients can get checked for their problem in a short period of time, and can be given the right medication.

• It can provide a proper diagnosis for a disease, in which a patient needs to get hospitalised.

• The Outpatients Department also vaccinations and minor surgeries, for which a patient does need to stay overnight.

Advantages of Outpatient Department Over Inpatient Department

Inpatient Department is an area in a hospital where patients stay overnight to get the healthcare service, whereas in Outpatient Department patients do not stay overnight.

• There can be a shortage of beds in the Inpatient Department, which is not the case with Outpatient Department.

• OPD is more cost effective as compared to IPD

• OPD is easily accessible and IPD does not usually provide its service in underdeveloped areas.

Advantages of Inpatient Department Over Inpatient Department

• Serious injuries or conditions cannot be treated in OPD as there would be less availability of required items, and IPD is made to treat these conditions. Hence, IPD is a better option in this case.

• Nurses and doctors in IPD help patients with not only physical but emotional support. This can benefit them in healing.

• Some IPD also provide a proper required diet for the patients.

Conclusion

The Outpatient Department is one of the fastest ways to get a required diagnosis for the condition without paying a high amount of fees, but is limited to some conditions only. There are different kinds of services provided by OPD depending on the type of patient. OPD has many advantages by which it can be profitable to patients.