Cuttack, Feb 14: In a move aimed at improving patient convenience, the management of SCB Medical College and Hospital has introduced significant changes to its outpatient department (OPD) services, hospital officials said.
Under the new arrangement, patients who are unable to present their medical test reports on their originally scheduled appointment day can now visit the consulting doctor later — on any subsequent working day — to show their reports and receive medical advice, rather than waiting for a fixed follow‑up date.
Hospital authorities explained that after an initial consultation, patients often need to undergo various medical tests, and delays in receiving results have previously forced many, especially those from distant places, to stay in Cuttack for several days or make multiple trips back to the hospital.
With the revised system, patients who do not get their reports on the appointment day can collect the results later and directly visit the concerned doctor’s ward or chamber between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on any government working day to show their reports and obtain consultation, officials said.
The change is expected to reduce prolonged stays and repeated visits, particularly for patients coming from outside Cuttack, easing both patient and family burdens.
Hospital sources said that doctors and departments in the OPD now have assigned consultation days and slots, for which patients can book appointments through both online and offline ticketing systems. After consultation, if tests are advised, patients can return on a later day with their reports to continue treatment without waiting for another scheduled appointment.
Medical practitioners and administrators believe the updated process will make outpatient care more flexible and patient‑friendly, helping streamline the flow of consultations and reducing overcrowding in OPD areas.
