General outpatient department in tertiary care institute: A model to be adopted by medical colleges

Context: Teaching medical institutes and tertiary care hospitals in various cities are overcrowded and overburdened. The general outpatient department (GOPD) plays a vital role as screening OPD to triage patients who require secondary or tertiary care and refer them to appropriate OPD. Primary health care is initiated at the GOPD itself and the mechanism of referral is established. Aim: To study GOPD model and its services in the institute. To assess perception of patients towards it. Settings and Design: It was an observational study conducted in a medical college of Mumbai, Maharashtra for 1 month on persons attending the GOPD. Materials and Methods: Data and monthly reports were used for baseline comparisons and exit interviews of patients were taken using questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Quantitative analysis was done using the proportions and means for the number of patients served daily by the GOPD and medicine OPD. Results: Around 44% of services were therapeutic in nature and it had contributed to a significant reduction in patient load into another specialist department. Nearly 30% cases needed referrals during the study period. Statistically, the significant value was obtained for patient satisfaction for consultation services from GOPD. Conclusions: A statistically significant value for patient satisfaction for consultation services from GOPD indicates that patients were in favor of such type of services.