[ Browse by Service Category : Health Care : Sub-Topics of Outpatient Health Facilities (10) ]
Community Health Centres
Community-based outpatient clinics that provide comprehensive primary health care by a team of health professionals with services that include physical examinations, immunizations, family planning, nutrition assistance, health education and promotion, rehabilitation, and the diagnosis and treatment of common ailments reflecting the needs of the targeted community or neighbourhood. Many health centres provide accessible care in northern and rural communities, in communities where many people have a high risk of ill health or to individuals and families with significant access issues, such as members of ethnocultural communities, refugees or people who are homeless.
Hospital Based Outpatient Services
Departments within hospitals or freestanding clinics operated by hospitals or hospital systems that are designed for the diagnosis and treatment of people with health problems who do not currently require a bed or admission for overnight care. Outpatient departments offer a wide range of treatment services, diagnostic tests and minor surgical procedures.
Walk In Medical Clinics
Programs that provide treatment services for people who have minor illnesses or injuries that do not require a visit to a hospital emergency department or an urgent care facility. These programs are generally specialized practices set up by groups of physicians operating within the provincial/territorial health system who are available for patients that do not have family physicians or who need medical treatment and/or diagnosis at times when their family physician is not available. In some areas, a walk-in clinic may rotate between the clinics of different physicians. Some programs, mainly in major metropolitan areas, may operate on a 24-hour basis but all tend to be open for some or all evenings and weekends. While walk-in medical clinics are initially intended to provide a same-day healthcare option without any appointment necessary, some clinics may require patients to book their visit in advance in order to spread out arrival times and reduce waiting times.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.
