Clinics within the diagnosis and treatment section of a hospital provide outpatient care.

• Outpatient clinics handle cases that do not require hospital admission. Patients can come in for consultation and treatment and return home the same day.
• Important facilities include examination rooms, treatment areas, waiting rooms, nursing stations, diagnostic equipment and in some cases basic surgical theaters.
• Need to have facilities for patient privacy, infection control and managing medical emergencies. Proximity to inpatient wards and emergency room is preferred.
• Staffing includes physicians, nurses, technicians and therapists with suitable qualifications for the specific clinic functions.
• Outpatient clinics provide a cost-effective way to handle lower-complexity care without occupying limited inpatient resources. They improve access and reduce waiting times for basic healthcare services.
• Effective clinic management focuses on appointment scheduling, patient flow, efficient use of resources and preventing long waiting times. Well-designed floor layouts that maximize productivity and patient experience are important.