A clinic is a place where healthcare professionals run non-hospital medical services. This could be a GP’s surgery or a health center where a nurse practitioner sees patients. In the US, it’s also common to find clinics that provide free or low-cost healthcare services for those who don’t have insurance.
While some clinics focus on a particular type of care, others are more general. They may offer services for women’s health, sexually transmitted diseases, or skin treatments. You might even be able to find a clinic that treats addictions or helps with family planning.
Clinics are often a little more affordable than hospitals, which can help people with financial hardship. And they tend to have much shorter wait times than you might experience at a hospital emergency room. In fact, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics has a search tool that you can use to find a clinic in your area.
In the UK, a doctor’s surgery is called a ‘clinic’ but technically speaking, it doesn’t have to be. Whenever a Member of Parliament holds open sessions where they talk to the public, these are known as their surgeries although technically the term can apply to any time that a specialist welcomes people into their practice.
Some clinics are independent while others are attached to a larger hospital or medical school. These clinics typically provide outpatient care and are generally known as clincs. In addition, some clinics are a part of a prepaid health service plan where they provide healthcare to members in exchange for money paid by employers or as an alternative to other types of healthcare.
Other than being a more cost-effective option than a hospital, clinics often have the advantage of being closer to home for many people. They can also be more familiar with the type of health care that people have through their healthcare insurance, which can make it easier to navigate their services.
The most famous clinics in the world are probably the Rochester Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. These have both been named by Newsweek as some of the best in the world for a wide range of medical problems. They’re known for having comprehensive databases of symptoms and illnesses, as well as having highly trained doctors who treat patients with compassion. Other top-ranked clinics include the Royal Liverpool Hospital in England and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.