Clinics provide a broad range of focused healthcare services to patients with various health needs. These healthcare facilities range from primary care clinics that focus on preventive visits, vaccinations, and basic healthcare to specialized clinics that offer services like cancer treatment centers. Often, these healthcare facilities are also called “primary health-care centers,” as they act as an initial point of contact before a patient sees a medical professional or doctor who specializes in a specific medical condition.
Depending on their size, clinics can be either outpatient facilities or connected to hospitals that offer inpatient care. Large outpatient clinics may house general medical practitioners or nurses to offer ambulatory services but lack the hospital-based diagnostic and pre- and post-operative treatments that inpatient units at hospitals typically provide. The term “clinic” is also used to refer to a specific division within a larger facility, such as a psychiatric clinic or neurology clinic.
A clinic can be operated by a government agency or by private entities, such as medical societies or community-based organizations. Many clinics operate on a volunteer basis to help people who do not have access to other healthcare options. These types of clinics are known as free or low-cost clinics. These clinics can be found in many parts of the world, including developing countries.
Other clinics are staffed by qualified doctors and nurses and have a variety of medical equipment available for use. These clinics are considered to be mid-range in terms of cost and are sometimes offered as part of a package of care provided by a primary healthcare center. Some of these packages are offered through prepaid medical service providers who stand up a facility, establish standard operating procedures and best practices, and supply the clinical staff and systems. Oftentimes, these providers partner with an employer to offer on-site clinics to their employees.
On-site clinics are a great way to show employees that their employers value their well-being, which can boost employee retention. Having convenient access to a workplace healthcare provider can reduce time spent traveling for appointments and improve work flow continuity, which is especially important when employees are ill or injured and need to return to the workplace quickly. This type of clinic is an excellent investment that will pay dividends for the long-term health of a company’s workforce.
In addition, having an on-site clinic can help to reduce costs for employee healthcare. While the cost of healthcare is still expensive for most people, clinics can lower the overall out-of-pocket costs for employees by reducing the need for deductible payments, co-payments, and other out-of-pocket expenses. For many individuals, these savings can be a big motivating factor for choosing to work at a particular organization. In addition, for employees with children, on-site clinics can significantly reduce the amount of money paid to cover childcare costs associated with frequent trips to the doctor. This is particularly beneficial for families with multiple children.