OPD Full Form

The full form of OPD is the Outpatient Department, which is the first point of communication between the patient and the medical staff in any hospital. Whenever visiting the medical department, the patient is first taken to the OPD for the primary discussion based on which the doctors refer them to the respective departments for a detailed checkup. Diagnosis, observation, consultation, and treatment are some of the common services of the OPD department. Continue reading to know in detail about OPD, its services, advantages, types of OPD, and common terminologies.

What is the Full Form of OPD?

OPD's full form is the Outpatient Department. OPD is the department that acts as the point of contact between the patient and the doctors. In the OPD, doctors perform a regular checkup and accordingly decide whether the patient needs to be referred to another doctor for special treatment or can be given medicines directly. 

What Does an Outpatient Mean?

OP in OPD full form stands for Outpatient, which means the person who comes for the diagnosis in the OPD. The patient visits the hospital only for a checkup. The patient is called outpatient until he/she is hospitalized. 

Why is OPD formed?

OPD is the first point of contact in the health care center. This eases the process for the doctors as the patients can visit the hospital, explain their problem, make the payment at the OPD, and can then meet the doctors for the diagnosis of the problem. The procedure in OPD is done for patients who are not hospitalized yet. Dental treatment like Root Canal treatment is an example of OPD, where the patient doesn't need to get hospitalized. They can just visit the clinic, get the treatment done, and come back home. Some of the benefits of OPD are: 

• It helps in getting regular checkups like blood pressure, weight, etc.
• The first consultation with the doctor is done in OPD.
• It helps in regular screening and investigations
• Based on the OPD checkup, doctors refer the patients for further treatment or diagnosis.
• It is less expensive and helps in getting primary care for the patient. 

Types of OPD

There are two types of OPD:

Centralized OPD: These can be found in small hospitals where all the healthcare services are provided in a single setting.

Decentralized OPD: In multi-specialty hospitals, different OPDs are designed in their respective departments. Patients can directly visit the OPD of the concerned department like physical therapy, neurology, ENT, Dental, etc. 

Different Departments in OPD

Consultation Chamber

This is the most important chamber in OPD where the patients are guided by dieticians and other experts. 

Examination Room

This is also a part of the OPD department where checkups are done to find the problem in the patients. 

Diagnosis Department

Collecting sample is the main function of this department for the diagnosis of diseases. 

Pharmacy Department

Pharmacy Department is also a part of the OPD department where the patients are provided the medicines.

Important Points to Remember When Going to Hospital for OPD

Knowing a few things in advance can make the visit to the hospital for OPD a hassle-free experience. Here are some important points:

Take Care of the Timing

There are fixed timings of OPD, which are determined by the hospital staff. Patients should check the same before planning their visit. 

Availability of Slots

There are fixed slots for each doctor. Patients should check by calling at reception if any slots are available during the time they want to visit.

Getting an Appointment

In case you are planning to visit a specialist, it is essential to get a prior appointment even for OPD. 

Other Full Forms of OPD

In addition to Outpatient Department, there are several other full forms of OPD. These are explained below for your reference:

1. Once Per Day refers to an action done once a day. 
2. Ocean Physics Department, which is a department of science that understands the nature and environment of the marine world through physics. 
3. Another full form of OPD is the Office of Public Defence, which is run and maintained by the Government.