Outpatient Services Department in a hospital refers to that section in the hospital, basically consisting of general medical clinics or offices, in which medical consultations are primarily done without the patients being confined (staying overnight) to a hospital bed.

Inpatient Services Department in a hospital refers to that section in the hospital consisting of rooms or wards for overnight confinement of patients.

Outpatient Services Department can consist of two types depending on the arrangement provided by the hospital administration and depending on the presence or absence of a physician’s postgraduate training program that requires such a department by the accrediting specialty boards. The first type consists of medical clinics manned by full-pledged physicians and specialists accredited by the hospital administration to hold office in these clinics. The second type consists of medical clinics manned by physicians undergoing postgraduate training, such as residents and fellows, under the supervision of their physician-trainors.

At present, the commonly used terms for the first type, especially in private hospitals, are Medical Arts Building, Medical Arts Center, or simply, Doctors’ Clinics. Outpatient Department is the most commonly used term for the second type both in private and government hospitals. Government hospitals which provide medical clinics for private practice of its physician-trainors can have both types, the first type for the private practice of their physician-trainors, and the second type, for the training requirements of their residents and fellows.

As mentioned above, the types of outpatient services department will depend on the arrangement provided by the hospital administration and on the presence or absence of a physician’s postgraduate training program. The final set-up could consist of just one type with one physical structure only or two types with two physical structures. See table below for factors that would determine choice from the different set-ups.

Set-up	Indications
One set-up (one physical structure) only
Private outpatient clinics only	Private hospitals – usually have this set-up – part of business development program – to attract clients to the hospital; to entice physicians to utilize revenue units of the hospital, particularly the ancillary diagnostic tests and inpatient services department
Charity outpatient clinics only	Government hospitals Charity non-government hospitals
Private outpatient clinics that incorporate training program of residents and fellows	If private hospitals want to save cost on building another outpatient department just for the purpose of training and as long as this set-up is acceptable to accrediting specialty boards; Training program under this set-up – apprenticeship – advantage of more supervision (there is minimal supervision by trainors in the usual outpatient department manned by residents and fellows).
Two types (two physical structures)	If hospital administration wants to have two separate physical structures because of reasons of governance; If hospital administration cannot integrate the objectives of the two types of outpatient services department into one physical structure
	Private hospitals – need to have outpatient services department for residents and fellows because of the requirements of the accrediting training boards
	Government hospitals – if they want to provide private outpatient clinics for their physician-trainors – primarily, to promote quality of training program, more physical presence - more supervision; secondarily, to promote their private inpatient services department if they have one.

Outpatient Services Department in a Private Hospital Setting

Goal: Effective and efficient use of private medical clinics

Set-up:

As much as possible one physical structure - private medical clinics which provide training program for the residents and fellows of the hospitals)

A structured training program should be formulated, implemented, monitored and regularly evaluated.

Full control of the private medical clinics – needed for accreditation by PhilHealth and ISO

Rules and regulations for use of clinics by the physicians

Business development aspects:

Goal: Promote financial sustainability of the hospital

Maximal use of private medical clinics in terms of space and time

Rental by the hour

No business activities that will compete with hospital business development and financial sustainability program

No laboratory exams within clinics

Promote quality reputation of hospital

Quality patient care

Arriving on time

Competent physicians

Patient care

Bioethics

Infection control

Waste management

*Refer to PhilHealth Benchbook for other standards

Note: If there will be an outpatient services department in a private hospital setting for residency an fellowship training, this should be under the administration of the medical services division through the Committee on Medical Training or Education.

Policies and procedures should be installed.

This department’s objectives should be known to the public and staff.

Indications for admissions: