Departments in a Hospital
Hospital is an integration of several departments such as clinical departments, nursing departments, supportive departments, technical departments and administrative departments. Each department has different purposes and requirements in a hospital. The list of different departments in a hospital are as follows -
1. List of Clinical Departments in a Hospital
• Casualty department
• Operating theatre (OT)
• Intensive care unit (ICU)
• Anesthesiology department
• Cardiology department
• ENT department
• Geriatric department
• Gastroenterology department
• General surgery
• Gynaecology department
• Haematology department
• Pediatrics department
• Neurology department
• Oncology department
• Opthalmology department
• Orthopaedic department
• Urology department
• Psychiatry department
• Inpatient Department (IPD)
• Outpatient Department (OPD)
2. Nursing Department in a Hospital
3. List of Supportive Departments in a Hospital
• Pharmacy department
• Radiology department
• Clinical pathology department
• Nutrition and dietetics
• Catering and food services
• Central sterilization unit
• Housekeeping
4. List of Technical Departments in a Hospital
• Clinical engineering department
• Information technology and communication
• Engineering Services
5. List of Administrative Departments in a Hospital
• Medical records department
• Human resources department
• Finance department
• Administrative department
Clinical Departments in a Hospital
Casualty Department -
• The casualty department is also known as the emergency department which deals with emergency conditions or provides immediate treatment.
• In this department, patients are assessed carefully and provided immediate treatment and care before being sent for further treatment in a specialised development.
• This department is equipped to handle all kinds of emergencies and provides service 24/7 in the hospital.
Operating Theatre (OT) -
• Operating theatre is also known as operating room or operating suite or operation suite.
• OT deals with surgical operations where surgeons perform surgery in an aseptic environment.
• OT rooms have good lighting, controlled humidity and temperature.
• Operating rooms are generally supported by an anaesthetic room, preparation room, scrub room and dirty utility room.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) -
• Intensive care unit is also known as critical care unit (CCU), intensive treatment unit (ITU) or intensive therapy unit.
• Intensive care unit deals with life-threatening or severe injuries and illnesses that require close monitoring from life support devices, and constant care.
• In ICU, patients are monitored and staffed by highly trained physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists.
• Common equipment in an intensive care unit includes a mechanical ventilator, cardiac monitor, defibrillator, high-flow nasal cannula, endotracheal tube, arterial line, infusion pumps, central line, nasogastric tube, nasogastric feed pump, urinary catheter.
Anesthesiology Department -
• In this department, doctors administer anaesthesia to the patients before various procedures and surgeries.
• The different types of anaesthesia provided are - general anaesthesia, nerve plexus blocks, central neuraxial anaesthesia, IV sedation, and monitored anaesthesia care.
Cardiology Department -
• The cardiology department deals with the human heart and circulation problems.
• It provides services on an inpatient and outpatient basis.
• In this department, a cardiologist prescribes some tests and some procedures are performed such as angioplasty, inserting a pacemaker, atherectomy, heart catheterization, stent implantation etc.
• The cardiology department contains equipment are ECG machine, ventilator, bedside monitor, syringe pump, and defibrillator.
ENT Department -
• The ENT department deals with the investigation and treatment of ear, nose and throat disorders.
• The ENT department deals with various disorders such as:
- General ear, nose and throat diseases
- Cancers of the neck and head region
- Neck lumps
- ENT allergy problems
- Balance and hearing disorders
- Salivary gland diseases
- Voice disorders
- Surgical procedures of ENT
Geriatric Department -
• Geriatric department deals with elderly people, their illness and treatment by specialized health personnel.
• The aim of a geriatric department is to maintain the physical and mental well-being of older people.
• This department deals with various significant diseases such as:
- Dementia
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Heart dies
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Syncope
- Diabetes
• This department also provides some special community services such as home visits, palliative care, mobile therapy unit etc.
Gastroenterology Department -
• This department deals with digestive system diseases and their management.
• In this department, gastroenterologists investigate, diagnose, treat and prevent all kinds of gastrointestinal problems such as peptic ulcer, gastritis, gallstones, indigestion, faecal incontinence, Hirschsprung disease etc. and perform various surgical procedures.
• Some special instruments are used in this department such as gastroscope, duodenoscope, enteroscope, colonoscope, video capsule, rigid sigmoidoscope etc.
General Surgery -
• In this department perform various surgical procedures.
• Some of the common surgical procedures performed are thyroid surgery, colon surgery, gall bladder surgery, breast surgery etc.
Gynaecology Department -
• The gynaecology department deals with investigation, treatment and prevention of female reproductive system and urinary tract problems.
• Some of the common problems which are investigated and treated are infertility, incontinence, endometritis etc.
Haematology Department -
• The haematology department deals with investigation, treatment and prevention of blood diseases.
• This department closely works with the hospital laboratory.
Paediatrics Department -
• The paediatrics department deals with infants, children and adolescents.
• This department deals with some significant diseases such as infectious diseases, congenital diseases, mental disorders and childhood cancer.
• In this department health care personnel are specialized and also procedures and practices are different based on the child's age group.
Neurology Department -
• The neurology department deals with the investigation, treatment and prevention of the human nervous system.
Oncology Department -
• Oncology department deals with the investigation and treatment of cancers.
• In this department, cancer patients are treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
• Doctors and nurses in this department need to be highly qualified and experienced.
Ophthalmology Department -
• This department deals with eye problems and treatment.
• Common types of equipment used in this department are an ophthalmoscope, tonometer, slit lamp, phoropter, and Snellen chart.
Orthopaedic Department -
• This department deals with problems and treatments of the musculoskeletal system.
• Services include bone setting, repair of damaged bone, ligaments, tendons and replacements of bones.
• This department provides both inpatient and outpatient services.
• Outpatient services include fracture treatment, dislocated joints, and musculoskeletal injuries.
Urology Department -
• This department is generally a surgical department that deals with diseases of the female urinary tract, male urinary tract and male reproductive organs.
• Urologist diagnoses and treats problems of the female urinary system and male genitourinary system.
Psychiatry Department -
• This department deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness and disorders.
• Some of the services include:
- Investigation, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric illness
- Providing psychological counselling
- De-addiction services
- Conducting IQ tests.
Inpatient Department (IPD) -
• This department admits patients in the hospital at least overnight for treatment purposes.
• In this department, patients are monitored by the doctors and nurses in a hospital setting and check patients' conditions as frequently as per the hospital protocol.
• Patients may stay in this department for a long duration and it depends on the severity of the patient's illness.
Outpatient Department (OPD) -
• In this department patients visit the hospital for a consultation, diagnosis and treatment but don't get admission.
• The outpatient department provides services at a particular time of the day.
• Here patients get medical services from a specific department based on their problem and the doctor provide a prescription of medicine.
Nursing Department in a Hospital
• The nursing department is an important organizational structure of a hospital that provides nursing services to the clients.
• This department has two major services that are nursing education and nursing care service.
• Nursing department includes lots of duties such as:
- Patient care
- Management
- Education
- Ward planning and staffing
- Maintenance of supplies
- Registration and records
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Ward administration
• Nursing personnel includes:
- Nursing Superintendent
- Assistant nursing superintendent
- Head nurse
- Staff nurses
Supportive Departments in a Hospital
Pharmacy Department -
• A pharmacy in a hospital is a dispensary that prepares, compounds, stores and dispenses medications, especially for inpatient clients.
• Generally hospital pharmacies stock a large number of medications.
• Pharmacy must be monitored and controlled by registered pharmacists.
Radiology Department -
• The radiology department provides medical imaging services to diagnose and treat diseases within the body.
• This department consists of X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), fluoroscopy.
• In the radiology department staff may get affected by radiation so, radiology staff must be protected from radiation hazards.
Clinical Pathology Department -
• Clinical pathology is also known as a medical laboratory.
• It is a medical speciality that deals with the diagnosis of diseases with the help of laboratory analysis of body fluids.
• Common tools used in this department are the microscope, strips, analyzers and centrifuges.
Nutrition and Dietetics -
• This department provides professional advice on diet for the inpatients as well as outpatients.
• This department collaborates with certain departments that require patients to be put on a diet such as diabetes, kidney diseases, elderly care, gastroenterology, surgery and critical care.
• This department suggests a dietary plan followed by the hospital canteen facilities.
Catering and Food Services -
• This department provides balanced meals to inpatient clients, their families and hospital staff according to the advice of the nutrition department.
Central Sterilization Unit -
• This department is responsible for keeping clean and sterile all the used instruments of the hospital to prevent infection from spreading.
Housekeeping -
• The housekeeping department is responsible for keeping the hospital neat and clean.
• Services include cleaning all rooms, and disposing of waste and laundry.
Technical Departments in a Hospital
Clinical Engineering Department -
• The clinical engineering department is responsible for the advanced care in a hospital through active support, direction and application of medical equipment.
• Clinical engineers inspect and maintain the performance of medical equipment that prevents hazards and optimizes the accuracy of results.
Information Technology and Communication -
• This department deals with computers to store and track the patient's records and other medical data of a hospital.
• This department is responsible for technical support and keeping the system updated.
• This department also provides online services for clients.
Engineering Services -
• Engineering services deal with electricity supply, water supply, piped medical gases, clinical vacuum system, air conditioning, lifts, lighting etc of a hospital.
• It ensures the optimum efficiency of engineering systems.
• It prevents hazards and breakdowns of hospital engineering systems.
Administrative Department in a Hospital
Medical Records Department -
• This department deals with medical data recording and maintains all inpatient and outpatients client's files.
• Data from this department helps the hospital to get statistics that improve hospital service growth.
Human Resources Department -
• This department deals with recruiting employees for various positions in the hospital.
• This department also creates policies and regulations for the employees.
• This department is actively responsible for the hospital's growth and optimum services.
Finance Department -
• This department is responsible for the financial growth of a hospital.
• It sets up budgets, and plans and arranges financial resources to maintain the smooth running of a hospital.
• This department is also responsible for the purchasing of medical supplies, staffs wage and other financial aspects.
Administrative Department -
• The administrative department deals with the overall management of a hospital.
• It sets up protocols and procedures for all departments of a hospital.
• This department is responsible for the hospital's growth and development. An ideal administrative department can run a hospital smoothly with huge financial benefits.
Conclusion
Hospitals are made up of various departments that collaborate to provide quality healthcare to patients. Each department is in charge of a different aspect of patient care, such as diagnostics and treatments, as well as administration and support services. Understanding the various departments in a hospital allows us to gain insight into how each department collaborates to provide the best care possible for patients. This article will give you an overview of the various departments in a hospital and their roles in providing quality healthcare.
