Station 1: Reception
This is the patient’s first point of contact with the clinic. Patients are welcomed and the following information is taken:
Name
Age
Village
Temperature
Initial general medical history is taken including health maintenance information such as immunizations and de-worming
The person working in this station would be trained in recognizing “Danger Signs;” if needed, patient would be sent directly to Station 2 where a full set of vitals are taken and the nurse can notify medical provider. Patients (non-emergent) will receive a number and will wait in the designated area to be called into Station 2.
Outside, covered waiting area: Community volunteers teach basic health topics
Station 2: Triage
Staffed by a nurse.
Once a patient has been through Station 1, patients will then be seen in Station 2 where a full set of vitals is taken, a chief complaint recorded, health maintenance record reviewed, and further medical history completed. Nurse will determine the next stop in the clinic. In certain cases, the nurse may send a patient to the laboratory in anticipation of a clinician needing a result.
Patients will be given a number and color indicating where to go and the order in which they will be seen.
Station 3: Examination rooms
Staffed by clinicians.
Patients are seen by clinician who takes a proper history, performs a physical exam, orders labs if needed, and prescribes medications if needed. The patient’s diagnosis is reviewed with the patient along with any referrals and follow up needed.
To accommodate more than one examination room and because of the lack of literacy, these rooms will be color coded: yellow, green, and blue. Corresponding waiting areas for each will also be color coded.
Green will function as a more advanced/urgent care setting in which patients can receive IV fluids; room is adjacent to laboratory where fluids would be stored. In addition, emergency equipment will be stored in Green Station 3.
Station 4: Medication dispensing area and pharmacy
Staffed by trained health worker.
Prescriptions written by clinicians are filled and a verbal review of what the medication is, how to take it, and any side effects to watch for is conducted in the pharmacy interview room. The pharmacy worker will use the patient’s name to verify the medication is intended for the patient. If a patient is to receive medication through the DOT approach, this will be reviewed with the patient.
The pharmacy inventory is maintained using log books and spread sheets.
Station 5: Exit Interview
Staffed by trained health worker.
Each patient will respond to a short questionnaire that reviews their diagnosis and treatment and follow up. Patients’ questions are answered. If needed, the health worker will find the information needed by speaking to a clinician, pharmacy worker, or lab technician. If a patient is to receive medication through the DOT approach, this will again be reviewed with the patient.
Laboratory:
Staffed by trained lab technician and assistant.
Patients will be sent to the laboratory by clinicians ordering tests. Lab slips will allow the proper tests to be run. The lab technician will use the patient’s name to verify the lab requested is intended for the patient. The lab staff will keep a record of all tests performed and all supplies needed.
Directly Observed Treatment:
Staffed by health worker.
Because of the rampant drug resistance in Uganda, treatment for such diagnoses as malaria and syphilis will be performed using the DOT approach. Patients will return for the next dose of medication as outlined to them in Stations 4 and 5. A record of all patients, dosing, dates and times will be kept and if a patient misses a dose, a community worker will be sent to locate the patient.
This is the patient’s first point of contact with the clinic. Patients are welcomed and the following information is taken:
Name
Age
Village
Temperature
Initial general medical history is taken including health maintenance information such as immunizations and de-worming
The person working in this station would be trained in recognizing “Danger Signs;” if needed, patient would be sent directly to Station 2 where a full set of vitals are taken and the nurse can notify medical provider. Patients (non-emergent) will receive a number and will wait in the designated area to be called into Station 2.
Outside, covered waiting area: Community volunteers teach basic health topics
Station 2: Triage
Staffed by a nurse.
Once a patient has been through Station 1, patients will then be seen in Station 2 where a full set of vitals is taken, a chief complaint recorded, health maintenance record reviewed, and further medical history completed. Nurse will determine the next stop in the clinic. In certain cases, the nurse may send a patient to the laboratory in anticipation of a clinician needing a result.
Patients will be given a number and color indicating where to go and the order in which they will be seen.
Station 3: Examination rooms
Staffed by clinicians.
Patients are seen by clinician who takes a proper history, performs a physical exam, orders labs if needed, and prescribes medications if needed. The patient’s diagnosis is reviewed with the patient along with any referrals and follow up needed.
To accommodate more than one examination room and because of the lack of literacy, these rooms will be color coded: yellow, green, and blue. Corresponding waiting areas for each will also be color coded.
Green will function as a more advanced/urgent care setting in which patients can receive IV fluids; room is adjacent to laboratory where fluids would be stored. In addition, emergency equipment will be stored in Green Station 3.
Station 4: Medication dispensing area and pharmacy
Staffed by trained health worker.
Prescriptions written by clinicians are filled and a verbal review of what the medication is, how to take it, and any side effects to watch for is conducted in the pharmacy interview room. The pharmacy worker will use the patient’s name to verify the medication is intended for the patient. If a patient is to receive medication through the DOT approach, this will be reviewed with the patient.
The pharmacy inventory is maintained using log books and spread sheets.
Station 5: Exit Interview
Staffed by trained health worker.
Each patient will respond to a short questionnaire that reviews their diagnosis and treatment and follow up. Patients’ questions are answered. If needed, the health worker will find the information needed by speaking to a clinician, pharmacy worker, or lab technician. If a patient is to receive medication through the DOT approach, this will again be reviewed with the patient.
Laboratory:
Staffed by trained lab technician and assistant.
Patients will be sent to the laboratory by clinicians ordering tests. Lab slips will allow the proper tests to be run. The lab technician will use the patient’s name to verify the lab requested is intended for the patient. The lab staff will keep a record of all tests performed and all supplies needed.
Directly Observed Treatment:
Staffed by health worker.
Because of the rampant drug resistance in Uganda, treatment for such diagnoses as malaria and syphilis will be performed using the DOT approach. Patients will return for the next dose of medication as outlined to them in Stations 4 and 5. A record of all patients, dosing, dates and times will be kept and if a patient misses a dose, a community worker will be sent to locate the patient.