Outpatient clinic

An outpatient department or outpatient clinic is the part of a hospital designed for people with health problems who visit the hospital for diagnosis or treatment, but do not at this time need to stay in the hospital. Modern outpatient departments offer a wide range of treatment services, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures.
In the past patients with long term problems would come regularly to these clinics, sometimes once a year and sometimes more often. The COVID-19 pandemic meant this was seen as dangerous, so there has been a big increase in the use of telephone, video and email to check up on people. There has also been a big increase in what is called patient-initiated follow-up appointments or PIFU. It is down to the patient to contact the hospital if they think they need medical help. 
Within the NHS there is now agreement that a “large proportion of patients can be managed without setting foot in a physical clinic”.
See also.
Virtual wards