Polyclinic vs. Hospital — What's the Difference?

A polyclinic (where poly means "many"; not to be confused with the homonym policlinic, where poli means "city" and which is sometimes used for a hospital's outpatient department) is a clinic or health care facility that provides both general and specialist examinations and treatments for a wide variety of diseases and injuries to outpatients and is usually independent of a hospital. When a polyclinic is so large that it is in fact a hospital, it is also called a general hospital.The term was rare in English until recently and is still very rare in Northern America, but examples of its use are the large outpatient clinics (healthcare centers) operated by the government in England and Singapore that are able to provide a wider range of services than a standard doctor's (GP) office as well as The Polyclinic in Seattle, Washington.

A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized medical and nursing staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergency department to treat urgent health problems ranging from fire and accident victims to a sudden illness.

A clinic, hospital, or health care facility that treats various types of diseases and injuries.

A facility that provides emergency, inpatient, and usually outpatient medical care for sick or injured people.

A usually private clinic in which diseases of many sorts are treated.

A facility that provides veterinary care for sick or injured animals.

A clinic in which diseases of many sorts are treated; especially, an institution in which clinical instruction is given in all kinds of disease.

Chiefly British A charitable institution, such as an orphanage or a home for the elderly.

A repair shop for specified items

(Archaic) A hospice for travelers or pilgrims.

A large medical facility, usually in a building with multiple floors, where seriously ill or injured patients are given extensive medical and/or surgical treatment.

A building founded for the long-term care of its residents, such as an almshouse. The residents may have no physical ailments, but simply need financial support.

(obsolete) A place of lodging.

(obsolete) Hospitable.

A place for shelter or entertainment; an inn.

A building in which the sick, injured, or infirm are received and treated; a public or private institution founded for reception and cure, or for the refuge, of persons diseased in body or mind, or disabled, infirm, or dependent, and in which they are treated either at their own expense, or more often by charity in whole or in part; a tent, building, or other place where the sick or wounded of an army cared for.

Hospitable.

A health facility where patients receive treatment

A medical institution where sick or injured people are given medical or surgical care