UNIT 1
SESSION :3 Role and Function of a Clinic
1. Fill in the blanks
1) A clinic that provides advanced diagnostic or treatment services for
specific diseases or parts of the body is called a ____________.
Ans: Specialty clinic
2) In a polyclinic, many facilities such as ________ , curative and preventive
services are provided.
Ans: diagnostic
3) A clinic generally provides _________ and ___________ services to the
outpatients.
Ans: examination, consultation
4) A __________ is an organized medical service offering diagnostic,
therapeutic or preventive outpatient services.
Ans: clinic
5) An ____________ clinic offers outpatient guidance and counselling for
various diseases and procedures that can be carried out in specialized
hospitals or clinics.
Ans: ambulatory
2. Short answer questions
i. What is clinic?
Ans: the word clinic is derived from Greek word “Klinein” meaning to
slope, lean or recline. Clinic is an organized medical service offering
diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive outpatient services.
ii. What role does a clinic play in community health?
Ans: A clinic provides the primary healthcare needs of people in the
local communities.
iii. What are the role and functions of a clinic?
Ans: A clinic is a healthcare facility that provides examinations,
consultation, and prescription to outpatients including dispensing
of medicines by a single doctor.
iv. What are the different types of clinics?
• A free clinic: provides free or low-cost healthcare. it is
generally provided by the state/central government and some
other charitable organizations.
• A specialist clinic: it provides advanced diagnostic or
treatment services for specific diseases or parts of the body.
• An ambulatory clinic: it offers outpatient guidance and
counselling for various diseases and procedures.
• A fertility clinic: to help women and couples to become
pregnant.
• Asexual clinic: deals with sexual health related problems,
such as prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted
infections.
• A poly clinic: it is a place where a wide range of healthcare
services including diagnostics can be obtained without the
need for an overnight stay.
v. Differentiate between a hospital and a clinic.
Hospital clinic
Both inpatient & outpatient Only outpatient services
services
Specialized treatment Primary healthcare
Specialized medical Single general practitioners
practitioners
Has diagnostic equipment Don’t have diagnostic
equipment
