An outpatient department or outpatient clinic is the part of a hospital designed for the treatment of outpatients care, people with health problems who visit the St.Francis Regional Referral Hospital Ifakara for diagnosis or treatment, but do not at this time require a bed or to be admitted for overnight care. Modern outpatient departments offer a wide range of treatment services, diagnostic tests and minor surgical procedures.

Inpatient care is the delivery of healthcare services within an inpatient facility, such as a hospital. In contrast to outpatient care, patients receiving inpatient care spend at least one night in a facility once admitted to a specialty department, like general surgery or cardiology. Inpatient care can be either planned or unplanned, and once healthcare providers treat patients, they discharge them with follow-up care instructions.