Outpatient Department vs Inpatient Department

Evolving Concept of Outpatient Services Department

 

Reynaldo O. Joson, MD

2005

 

Concept of OPD

 

Traditional concept of OPD

 

Structure:

In contrast to Inpatient Department (IPD) and Department of Emergency Medical Services (DEMS)

 

Area or department in a hospital where health care services (usually clinic consultations) are rendered without the patient being confined (admitted to a hospital bed or inpatient department) and outside the Department of Emergency Medical Services or Emergency Room.

 

Service:

 

Health care services rendered in an area designated as outpatient department (usually day-time consultation clinics) with the patient not confined to a hospital bed to differentiate them from the services rendered to patients who are confined to hospital beds and those rendered in the emergency room and other special units.

 

 

Difference between OPD and IPD:

 

Structure – area in the hospital where health services are rendered either with the patient having an overnight confinement or not.

 

  1. OPD – no overnight confinement in the hospital, thus, no provision for such services.
  2. IPD – with overnight confinement in the hospital, thus, with provision for such services such as patient beds and night staff.



 

Services - manner in which the health services are rendered either with the patient having an overnight confinement in the hospital or not.

 

  1. OPD basis – without overnight confinement
  2. IPD basis – with overnight confinement

 

 

 

 

 

Evolving concepts

 

Ambulatory services – services rendered without the patient having to have an overnight confinement in the hospital.

 

Day services – services rendered during the day without having to have an overnight confinement in the hospital.

 

Outpatient Department in a government hospital – consultation clinics and treatment rooms.

 

Outpatient Department in a private hospital – Private Doctors’ Clinics (Medical Arts Center / Medical Arts Building) and consultation clinics and treatment rooms for service patients as required by the accrediting bodies for hospitals with internship, residency, and fellowship training programs.