Articles
HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
- Details
- Published: 05 October 2012
FUNCTIONS OF THE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
The Health Services Department caters for the curative and preventive health care of the University community. As a Primary Health Care facility, its ultimate goal is the empowerment of individuals, families, and the entire community to take charge of, and responsibility for their own health. In other words, the provision of healthcare services that is accessible, affordable and acceptable to every member of the University Community through prompt and efficient professional healthcare delivery.
The functions of the Health Services Department are categorized into the following:
FAMILY/PERSONAL HEALTH CARE
i. Out-patient (ambulatory) services
ii. In-patient services (Emergency Cases for observation only)
iii. Domiciliary Services
iv. School Health Services
v. Maternal and child health services
vi. Immunization services
vii. Medical screening – periodic and routine medical examinations
viii. Family Planning and child spacing services
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
i. Environmental Health Services
a. Control and eradication of nuisances
b. Control and eradication of disease
c. Sanitary services
ii. Supervisory and Regulatory Services
a. Food and water hygiene
iii. Other Services
a. Collection of statistics–notification of morbidity and deaths.
TEACHING AND RESEARCH
i. Staff training programmes – in services
ii Seminars/Workshops
iii. Formal professional education
iv. Health practice research
The functions of Health Service Department can hence be summarized as:
· Health Education of the community on the prevention and control of prevailing health problem.
· Environmental Sanitation which entail control of pests and insects, prevention of air pollution, the inspection and supervision of eating
premises within the University and the inspecting of buildings and premises.
· Maternal and Child Health services including Family Planning, Immunization against the major infectious diseases.
· Prevention and control of locally endemic diseases.
· School health Services for the University Demonstration Primary School and the Day Care Centre.
· General Outpatient clinics for the treatment of common diseases and injuries
· Provision of essential drugs.
ACTIVITIES IN THE HEALTH CENTRE
REGISTRATION AND MEDICAL EXAMINATION
All new students and members of staff of the University are required to register with the Medical records as soon as they are admitted or employed respectively.
All prospective employees should be certified medically fit by the University Health Centre before assumption of duties. Expatriate staff should undergo medical examination at the University Health Centre within three months of arrival.
A good reason for registration is to obtain base-line medical data on all individuals concerning drug allergies and idiosyncrasies, and existing health conditions like diabetes, Bronchial Asthma, Sickle Cell Disease, Hypertension etc which should be indicated in the medical examination forms. These would serve as guides in the management of the individual, especially in cases of sudden illness.
Another reason is to identify those entitled to the University’s free medical care.
Members of staff have family folders which contain treatment sheets for every member of the families. Each family folder has corresponding index and registration cards. The registration card must be kept by the head of the family or the employee of the University and must be presented at every visit to the clinic by any member of that family. . Any loss of the registration card can be replaced only on payment of a penalty fee of N300. The Index cards and the family folders are kept in the Medical Records.
Requirements for registration:
Students should have been cleared on- line by the Admission Office before they can register at the Health Centre.
The Registry usually sends a list of new employees to the Director of Health Services Department before medical examination can commence
Such members of staff should present identification papers such as original copy of the letter of employment at the administrative office before the process of registration can begin.
Each student or staff is required to submit two passport size photographs of himself or herself.
in addition, each staff is required to also submit one passport size photograph of each member of his nuclear family (Spouse and a maximum of 4 children only.)
Students and staff are required also to submit their chest x-ray films together with the radiologist’s report and properly completed medical examination forms.
CONSULTATION
Hours of Consultation: Between 8 a.m. to 4.00pm, patients should present their registration cards at the Records section. Consultation starts as soon as patients’ folders are collected from the Records to the doctors’ consulting rooms. Normal consultation continues till 4.00 p.m. every day, except Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Routine Consultations: Generally speaking, patients may book an appointment to consult a doctor of his or her choice. However, patients are not encouraged to seek to consult with a particular doctor during the routine hours of consultation, except a previous appointment had been made with that particular doctor.
VISIT TO THE HEALTH CENTRE FOR TREATMENT
Staff should always present their health centre registration cards in addition to letters from their respective Heads of Department/Units at the records unit before they can be attended to in the clinic.
Sometimes the doctor may request a patient to report again on a specified date. In such a case the patient should have the doctor complete the relevant columns on the patients registration card.
SICK BAY
The Sick Bay consists of beds and other necessary equipment for patients who are kept in the Health Centre for observation within 48 hours. Patients who may require longer for treatment are referred to the University of Port Harcourt Hospital.
PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED IN VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
1) Casualty cases:
There are always staff on duty at the Health Centre after the normal working hours and patients are strongly advised to report at the Health Centre in all emergencies.
The duty-nurse will send for the doctor on call should it become necessary.
Patients should please note that for health and domestic reasons, as well as avoid any inconveniences; patients should on no account call on doctors or nurses in their homes.
2) Sudden Illness outside the University:
Patients who suddenly fall and are taken to a hospital should arrange to notify the University Health Services as soon as possible. On discharge from the hospital a copy of the discharge certificate should be sent to the Director of Health Services.
3) Sick Leave Certificate:
Sick Leave Certificate obtained outside the town should be from registered medical practitioners with appropriate headed papers, stamped, signed by the attending physicians and countersigned by the head of that hospital.
Overseas Sick Leave Certificate: should be accompanied by a supporting medical report.
CONTACT THE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT:
E mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone number: 07036099870