The department of family medicine had evolved in leaps and bounds over the last few years since inception. Dr. Olije Wakdok was the pioneer head of the department and was instrumental in getting the department on its feet in no small measure with the support of the pioneer medical director, Dr. Chinwe Igwilo. She was succeeded by Dr. Sylvester Oputa who took over the baton from her. The current HOD is Dr. Olugbemi Popoola.
Our department boasts of seasoned family physicians with a wide range of experience, some of whom are examiners in the West African College of Physicians (WACP) and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN). With the full backing of the previous and current management, we have obtained full accreditation for residency training in family medicine from both of the above colleges and have produced our first set of senior registrars.
The department covers three critical service points in the hospital: The private wing, the managed care unit, and the General Out-Patient Clinic (GOPC).
The Private wing/ VIP Unit:
This is a ‘one-stop-shop’ that caters to the need of our clients who desire fast track services in a serene environment. Clients get to access the full range of all our consultants in a timely manner, avoiding the queues that often cause delays elsewhere, as clinics and consultations are usually run on an appointment basis. Forgot your clinic date and time? Don’t worry! Our capable front desk team who are on ground 24/7 will send you a reminder so you don’t miss your scheduled visit. Our in-house pharmacy and laboratory services are on standby to attend to your needs any day, any time. Need to be admitted? You’re not left alone, as we offer in-patient services, and our standby power supply ensures you are kept in a comfortable environment all the time, with our amiable nursing staff headed by CNO Joy Nwankwo ready to attend to you. The head of the department oversees the affairs of the wing.
The Managed Care Unit:
In line with global best practices with the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage for all, the Unit of the department which is also overseen by a consultant Family Physician (Dr. Ephraim Okoye) covers all clients who are not paying out-of-pocket for services rendered. There are currently three main sub-units which access care here pari passu viz:
- The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)
- Private Health Insurance Schemes (PHIS)
- Retainership
The unit is akin to a hospital within a Hospital, as it boasts of its own dedicated records, pharmacy, and lab, asides the 24 hours dedicated front desk and authorization staff, complete with doctors and nurses who work round the clock to give our esteemed clients patient-centred care. We attend to clients from all works of life including Government corporations and the Organized Private Sector. Currently, there are over 30,000 clients on our database.
The General Out-Patient Clinic:
As frontline physicians, we serve as the gateway to the Hospital community, attending to all clients irrespective of age, sex or illness. The GOPC which is usually the first point of contact is a central hub for servicing the Primary Care needs of individuals covering both the FCT and its environs. Located on the ground floor of the beautiful Hospital edifice, the nursing team ably headed by ACNO Nnenna Okechukwu promptly attend to all clients after registration, who are then ushered to the doctors in the consulting room. An equipped Observation Room is also available, and infection Prevention Protocols are always maintained across all the Units of the department. Pertinent to note is that unlike what is obtained in some other places, the entire Family medicine department runs services every single day of the week.