INTRODUCTION
Family Medicine is a medical specialty that provides a comprehensive and continuous healthcare to individuals and the family. The Department was formerly known as the General Outpatient Department and had been in existence since the inception of the hospital in 1994. It was renamed Family Medicine in year 2000 at the inception of the Residency training program, while the Clinic was re-named the General Outpatient Clinic (GOPC).
BRIEF HISTORY
The Department was initially sited in the building that now houses the old administrative building/old board room, about 100meters from the hospital gate. Some years later, it was moved to the eastern section of the hospital, adjoined by the then Accident and Emergency unit. It had five (05) consulting rooms. However, because of this limitation and restriction of space, the Department was moved to its present location in April 2016 with nine (9) consulting rooms.
It is located in the eastern part of the hospital and it serves as the major entry point for patients into the healthcare delivery system of the hospital it is the gateway to non-emergency care for patients older than 14 years and above. Other portals of entry are the Children Emergency and the Labour ward. The Department is housed within the same building with the general Outpatient and ophthalmology clinic. Its location is central being surrounded by the Medical Records unit, the outpatient pharmacy unit, ENT Department, renal unit of the internal medicine department, burns unit, orthopaedic department, ophthalmology department, the laboratory services unit, Heart- To-Heart and the Children emergency. This situation facilitates comprehensive and coordinated care delivery to our patients.
The various sections in the building include the following:
- The medical information area- where every patient- old or new is registered
- The Nursing station- where vital signs are taken and where patients are sorted out by our patient-friendly and courteous Nurses staff.
- The Reception area – where patients are comfortably seated while awaiting consultation.
- The consulting rooms (nine (9) at present)- where the consultations take place in a spacious, relaxed and well-lighted environment that also ensures privacy. All the rooms are equipped with desk top computers, linked with the hospital intranet (EMR) for consultation.
- The four-bedded Observation area- where non-surgical/non-trauma emergencies are attended to.
- The Dressing and minor operation room- where wound care and minor surgical procedures are carried out.
- The Conveniences – where our patients and their caregivers can relieve themselves.
- Other parts of the building include offices, staff changing room, Library and the Residents’ common room.
The Department was initially established to offer healthcare services to undifferentiated patients from within and outside the Owo community – However, as the hospital began to expand its operations, the department also widened its scope and incorporated training and research into its activities.
Vision: The vision of the department is adapted from the overall vision of the hospital, which is ‘to provide qualitative and accessible healthcare services to our patients at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels with the ultimate goal of reducing morbidity and mortality among Nigerians
Motto: Patient-Centered Care with Courtesy.
Goals: Service, Training and Research.
Activities of the department
The Department offers specialized, first contact, comprehensive, continuous and coordinated care. Our services include the following:
Diagnostic/Curative/Therapeutic
- Daily Outpatient Clinic – 8am to 4pm
- Follow-up care
- Care of non-trauma & non-surgical emergencies and short-term in-patient care
- Point of care testing
- Two-way referral services and coordinated care with other specialist clinics
- Minor surgical procedures
- Outpatient wound care
- Co-management of patients at the Accident and Emergency unit of the hospital
- Overseeing the NYSC Camp clinic at Ikare Akoko
Training and research activities
- Daily morning reviews – 8am to 9am
- Weekly seminar/journal review/presentation
- Mentoring Resident doctors in the conduct of research and Case report writing
- Organization of periodic assessment/mock examination for resident doctors
Preventive Care
- Health education and personalized counseling
- Period health examination
- Certificate of medical fitness
Nursing services
- Counseling and health education
- Daily wound dressing
- Measuring of vital signs
- Administration of drugs
The General Outpatient Clinic operates from 8am to 4pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 8am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Care of in-patients continues at the Accident and Emergency unit after 4pm on weekdays and after 2pm on weekends,
The staff within the department include:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Departmental secretary
- Clerical officers/Couriers
- Cleaners
Current list of members of staff
Consultants
Dr OLAJIDE O. J. – Head of Department
Dr Orji E. J.
Dr Arohunmolase R. O.
Dr Atimoh C. O. – Training Coordinator
Dr Adebanjo O. A.
Dr Akinboboye O. O. – The Chief Trainer
Dr Ahmed L. A. – Past Head Department of A & E Unit, Past Head of Clinical Services and the current Medical Director
Resident Doctors
Senior Registrars
Dr Dotun-Odumade F. C.
Dr Adetula O. J.
Registrars
Dr Ogunseesin F. S.
Dr Adefemi B. L.
Dr Odofin J.
Dr Dare Aderemi
Dr Eminowa J. R.
Dr Omosigho E. F.
Dr Ajayi O. G.
Nurses
Mrs. Esiet N. E – Unit Manager
Mrs. Adebayo R. T.
Mrs. Olorundare A. D.
Secretary
Ms. Adelusi F
Clerical Officer
Mrs. Bazuaye R.
Cleaners
Mrs. Matthew
Mrs. Sunday
RESIDENCY TRAINING
The Family Medicine Department is the first clinical Department in the Centre to be accredited for and to commence Residency (Postgraduate) program in both the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians. The Postgraduate training commenced in the year 2000.
The Department started with a visiting Consultant Family Physician- Dr Akinboboye O. O. who is also the Chief trainer till now. The foundation Resident doctors were: Dr Ibrahim Eneye, Former HOD, Family Medicine department, FMC Owo, Dr Ahmed L. A. (the current Medical Director of the Centre) and Dr Medunoye E.I, Former HOD, Family Medicine department, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex, Akure. Since inception, the Department has produced twenty-nine (29) Fellows of either or both colleges as at October 2023.
The training starts with Junior Registrars undergoing orientation in the department, where they are taught and exposed to the core principles of Family Medicine before proceeding on the first one and a half – year rotation outside the department. They undergo the rotation in the four major clinical areas: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Maternal Health), Paediatrics (Child Health). They also rotate through the Accident and Emergency unit. During the next one and a half year, they rotate through the clinical sub-specialties: Radiology, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Ophthalmology, Pathology, Dental unit, Orthopaedics, Community Health and Psychiatry. There is also room for elective posting.
While undergoing their rotations, each Residents is expected to participate in academic programs organized by both Colleges by attending the revision courses, a certain percentage of update courses, Basic Life Support (BLS), and the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) course as part of the requirements necessary to be qualified to sit for the Part 1 (Membership) examinations. The department also organizes Mock examination for the Residents to ascertain their level of preparedness before being presented for the college examinations.
After being successful at the Part 1 examination, the Resident becomes a Senior Registrar and immediately commences the senior posting in the department before going for outside posting: Rural posting, Senior surgical and Senior Obstetrics & Gynaecology posting and Tutelage in an accredited private hospital. The Senior Registrar will also carry out research in an area of interest under the supervision of two trainers and present the findings in a dissertation format. In addition, a Casebook of some patients managed during the course of the junior/senior postings will be written and submitted along with the dissertation to the Colleges for examination. The Senior Registrar is also expected to attend Research methodology, management and update courses organized by the colleges to qualify to participate in the Part two (Fellowship) examinations.
Academic activities
| Morning Review | Monday- Friday (Daily) | 8:00am – 845am |
| Journal Review | Tuesday (Weekly) | 2:00pm-400pm |
| Clinical Meeting | Wednesday (weekly) | 2:00pm-4:pm |
| Hospital Clinical Meeting | Last Wednesday of the month (Monthly | 2:pm-4:pm |
| Hospital Grand Rounds | quarterly |
Other levels of training include daily patient’s review with Consultants and drug reviews.