---
title: "OPD Workflow"
description: "Complete OPD workflow guide — from patient registration to doctor consultation, prescription creation, and delivery. Covers token management, queue, and follow-ups."
date: 2026-07-19
lastModified: 2026-07-22
category: "opd"
author: "Dr. Umesh Bilagi"
beta: false
---

## Overview

The OPD (Outpatient Department) workflow in NICE HMS covers the complete patient journey: registration at the front desk, token assignment, doctor consultation, digital prescription creation, and delivery via print or WhatsApp.

## Step-by-Step OPD Workflow

### 1. Patient Arrival

The patient arrives at the reception desk. Two scenarios:

**New patient (first visit):**
- Register the patient via **Patient > New Patient**. See [Adding New Patients](/docs/adding-new-patients).
- After registration, the system auto-redirects to the patient management page.

**Returning patient:**
- Find the patient using the search bar (enter ID) or **Patient > Search | Edit | Delete Patient**. See [Accessing Old Patients](/docs/accessing-old-patients).
- Click the patient ID to open the management page.

### 2. OPD Registration

On the patient management page:
1. Click **New OPD Registration**.
2. Fill in:
   - **Doctor** — Select the consulting doctor from the dropdown.
   - **Validity** — Set how many days this registration is valid (typically 1-7 days).
   - **Date** — Defaults to today.
3. Click **Submit**.

The system generates a token number (auto-incremented per doctor, per day, reset daily).

### 3. Doctor Consultation

The doctor sees the patient in their **My Patients > OPD** tab:
1. Click the patient's name to open the encounter.
2. Review patient history (past visits, prescriptions, lab results).
3. Create a new prescription. See [Creating Patient Prescription](/docs/creating-patient-prescription).

### 4. Prescription Delivery

After submitting the prescription:
- **Print** — Opens as PDF in a new browser tab. Print or save.
- **WhatsApp** — Sends the PDF to the patient's registered mobile number.

### 5. Investigation/Lab Orders (If Needed)

If the doctor orders investigations:
1. Select tests from the test menu within the prescription.
2. The order appears in the Lab module for sample collection.
3. Results are available in the patient record once entered.

### 6. Follow-Up

- The doctor sets a follow-up date in the prescription.
- When the patient returns after the validity period, create a new OPD registration.
- For returns within the validity period, the existing registration applies.

## OPD Status Tracking

Each OPD encounter has a status:

| Status | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| **In Progress** | Patient is currently with the doctor |
| **Completed** | Consultation finished, prescription issued |
| **Investigation Advised** | Lab/radiology tests ordered, awaiting results |
| **Admitted** | Patient has been admitted to IPD |

## Token Management

- Token numbers are per-doctor, per-day, starting from 1 each day.
- The token helps manage patient queue order.
- Receptionists can view the current queue from the OPD dashboard.

## FAQ

**Q: Can I register a patient for multiple doctors on the same day?**
A: Yes. Create separate OPD registrations — one for each consulting doctor.

**Q: What happens when the registration validity expires?**
A: The patient needs a fresh OPD registration for their next visit. Previous registrations remain in the patient's history.

**Q: Can a receptionist see which doctor has the shortest queue?**
A: The OPD dashboard shows active registrations per doctor, giving visibility into queue lengths.