A clinic is a health facility that offers outpatient services (i.e., services for patients who don't need to stay overnight).[1][2] This can include preventative care and routine treatment for non-emergency health issues.[2][3]
Clinics are sometimes connected with hospitals.[1]
Types of clinics
Clinics can be public or private.[1]
While many clinics do primary care, others have specialties.[3] These include areas like mental health, addiction, and reproductive health.[1][3]
In countries where healthcare isn't universally affordable, there are sometimes free clinics or clinics that use sliding pay scales.[3]
Clinics and engineering
Engineers may develop tools for clinics, from X ray machines to medical software.
It's important for medical engineers to understand the needs and priorities of patients and healthcare providers.