The medical system in most places consists of hospitals, medical clinics and private practices. It is important to understand how they function so that you can know where to go when you need medical attention. Many patients have been taken to the wrong facilities in the case of emergencies and this time wasting has often led to unfortunate results, so it is important to know how they each function.
Of the three facilities mentioned above, the hospital is the one that will provide the most services because they have more trained staff, more equipment and operate around the clock. So if you feel really ill you can go to the hospital emergency room and receive medical attention, after which you may be sent home or admitted to a bed for further care, depending on your medical needs. Sometimes you can be admitted to the hospital because you are sent there directly from a clinic or private doctor’s office after receiving medical evaluation in those facilities.
So basically, if you have no other options for professional treatment, then you should get yourself to the emergency room when you feel really sick. Most, if not all emergency rooms are a pain in the butt. The seats are uncomfortable, the wait is too long and patients who arrive there after you get seen by the emergency room physician before you (most likely because they are more ill than you). Even the top hospitals are like that. It is just the way emergency rooms are. Regardless, it is the right place to be when you are ill because as stated above, they have lots of equipment and staff that are trained to deal with a wide range of emergencies. Your turn will come and if you have a sleepless night as a result, then you should just regard it as the price you pay to maintain good health.
Clinics on the other hand are facilities where patients receive long term follow-up care. Clinics are meant for convenience of care, are greater in number than hospitals and may be located in local neighborhoods. They are usually not for emergency services and have limited hours of operation.
They do not have as many highly trained staff or as much equipment as hospitals, so it is important to know that you should not waste time in the case of emergencies by taking sick persons to medical clinics if a hospital is easily within reach. They should be taken to the nearest emergency room.
Doctor’s offices are private facilities and may consist of one doctor or several doctors in the case of a group practice. They generally see patients by appointment, are limited in staff and equipment and have specific operating hours. Again, in the case of emergencies your first choice should be the emergency room not the doctor’s office.
If however only a clinic or a doctor’s office is available in the case of emergency and the patient can be taken there for medical attention, then in that case these facilities can be used as an option. The doctor‘s office or clinic can medically evaluate and stabilize the patient before transferring them to a hospital.
An option that you should not forget is EMS (Emergency Medical Services), the name may be different depending on your location. They are trained to assess your condition and take you to the appropriate medical facility.
