Hospital vs Clinic

Both hospital and clinic provide healthcare for the patients. But hospital and clinic are not identical. Some differences between hospital and clinic which are discussed below:

1. Origin of Hospital vs Clinic

The word ‘Hospital’ is derived from the Latin word “Hospes” meaning “Host”, “Guest”, or “Stranger”. So, Hospital means a guest-chamber, guest’s lodging. While the word ‘Clinic’ is derived from Ancient Greek “Klinein” meaning “Slope”, “Lean” or “Recline”. In addition, early people use the word clinic as “one who receives baptism on a sick bed”.

2. Definition of Hospital vs Clinic

A hospital can be defined as an institution of community health or a specialized complex organization which makes use of physician, surgeons, nurses, and other technical staff. It provides facilities for diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation, prevention, education, and research.

While a clinic is a small and simple organization which especially focused on the care of non-resident patients/outpatients/ ambulatory patients. In a clinic, the medical facility smaller than a hospital.

3. Organizational pattern of Hospital vs Clinic

Generally, the organizational pattern of Hospital is large and complex than a clinic. But in the case of a clinic, the organizational pattern is small and simple than a hospital.

4. Types of Hospital vs Clinic

 Types of Hospital

Firstly, On the basis of the type of service, hospitals are classified into two categories:

1. General hospital: General hospital provides care to any types of patients such as inpatients, outpatients, emergency patients. They provide a broad range of care to the patients. Most of them have own ambulance service.
2. Specialist hospital: Specialist hospitals are those that restrict patient care. They provide care to special condition such as cancer, diabetes, and psychiatric etc. For example, cancer hospital, psychiatric hospital, and diabetes hospital etc.

Secondly, On the basis of ownership, hospitals are two types:

1. Governmental hospitals: All of the cost of these types of hospitals are carried by the government. Here, the cost of treatment is low, sometimes it provides free treatment.
2. Non-governmental or private hospitals: Further, non-governmental hospitals are two types, profitable and non-profitable hospital.

Also, On the basis of system of medicine:

1. Allopathic hospitals
2. Ayurvedic hospitals
3. Homeopathic hospitals
4. Unani hospitals

On the basis of size

1. Large hospital (beds 1000 or more)
2. Medium hospital (beds between 500 – 1000)
3. Small hospital (beds between 100 – 500)
4. Very small hospital (beds less than 100)

On the other hand, Types of clinics

First of all, On the basis of ownership, clinics are two types

1. Governmental clinic: All of the cost of these types of the clinic are carried by the government. Here, the cost of treatment is low, sometimes it provides free treatment.
2. Non-governmental or private clinic: Further, non-governmental clinics are two types, profitable and non-profitable clinic. The non-profitable clinic provides free or low-cost treatment.

Besides, On the basis of the type of service, clinics are classified into two categories.

1. General clinic: General clinic provides general diagnoses or treatments to the outpatient. They provide a broad range of care to the patients.
2. Specialist clinic: Specialist clinics are those that restrict patient care. They only provide care to specific condition such as sexual health, fertility, abortion. They provide advanced diagnostic or treatment to the outpatient. For example,

• A sexual health clinic.
• An ambulatory surgery clinic
• An abortion clinic
• A fertility clinic

Other types of the clinic are:

Polyclinic: They provide a range of healthcare services including diagnostics.

Retail-based clinic: It may be staffed by nurse practitioners. It is similar to retail outlets providing walk-in health care.

5. Services time of Hospital and Clinic

A hospital gives services for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Usually, a clinic provides services for 4 to 5 hours.

6. Departments or wards of Hospital vs Clinic

Generally, A hospital has various type of departments, traditionally known as wards. For example:

1. Emergency department
2. Cardiology
3. ICU (Intensive care unit)
4. Neurology
5. Oncology
6. Gynecology/maternity ward
7. Inpatient department
8. Outpatient department

In addition, common support units include pharmacy for inpatient, pharmacy for outpatient, pathology, and radiology. On the other hand, there are no departments in the clinic.

7. Pharmacist role in Hospital vs Clinic

Hospital pharmacist plays an important role in a hospital. While the clinical pharmacist may be or may not play a role in a clinic.

8. Pharmacy and therapeutic committee of Hospital vs Clinic

To run a hospital properly pharmacy and therapeutic committee (PTC) must be needed. On the other hand, pharmacy and therapeutic committee (PTC) is not included in the clinic.

9. Bed of Hospital vs Clinic

A hospital has many beds for in-patients. While the clinic provides care only for outpatient, the clinic generally does not have beds for patients. But some clinic has few beds for the patient.

10. Mortuary (Funeral rooms) of Hospital vs Clinic

Usually, Hospitals have funeral rooms. Because deaths happened in the hospitals. On the other hand, Clinics do not have funeral rooms.

Summary of the difference between Hospital and Clinic

So, I think it’s clear about the difference between Hospital and Clinic now.

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