A Study on the Recent Challenges Increase in OPD – An Overview

Abstract: This study aims to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of the Outpatient Clinic at the Hospital, to immense satisfaction levels with aspects of patient care, if challenges arise to determine the facts and determine if patient satisfaction levels can be increased by the provision of information letters prior to appointment. The long waiting time is most crucial problems for private hospitals. Particularly in developing countries, due to inefficient design and limited facilities. This waiting time causes que jumping, focus on VIP, especially in service providing facilities. The outpatient department (OPD) is the first contact of the patients in hospital where handles a large number of patients daily. This research aims to provide solutions for cutdown waiting time in OPD premises through proper planning and organising. This study finds the waiting time of the patients at the OPD. Hospital records and field observations were used to gather data. Further solutions will be applied though identified using the purpose of interviews with the concerned management and a questionnaire survey with patients at OPD. Field observations display that long waiting times at the registration/billing counter and review with the consultant rooms. Due to increased demand for OPD services, walk-in patient, a lack of resources, unorganized flowchart of the patient and patients’ ignorance of OPD procedures were identified as causes of overcrowding. The findings of the research mark valuable insights into government hospitals, and the proposed solutions will be useful for hospital management. Keywords: Significance of OPD, floor management, challenges of the OPD, patient satisfaction