polyclinic
Loading your saved state.
polyclinic
A large health center or outpatient clinic where doctors from various specialties practice. Patients are examined and treated there but are not admitted as inpatients. The term is especially known from the GDR.
Für die Untersuchung beim Facharzt musste sie in die städtische Poliklinik gehen.
For the examination with the specialist, she had to go to the municipal polyclinic.
The word is made up of 'Poli-' and 'Klinik' (clinic). The prefix 'Poli-' comes from Greek and means 'many.' So a Poliklinik is literally a clinic with many different medical specialties.
In der Poliklinik findest du einen Augenarzt, einen Hautarzt und einen Orthopäden unter einem Dach.
In the polyclinic, you can find an eye doctor, a dermatologist, and an orthopedist under one roof.
The term 'Poliklinik' (polyclinic) is strongly associated with the healthcare system of the former GDR. In the eastern German states, it is therefore used and understood more often than in western Germany, where terms like 'Ärztehaus' (medical center) or 'medizinisches Versorgungszentrum' (medical care center) are more common.
Meine Großmutter erzählt oft, wie sie früher immer in die Poliklinik gegangen ist.
My grandmother often talks about how she used to always go to the polyclinic.
As with 'Krankenhaus' (hospital), the preposition 'in' is used to distinguish movement and location. Movement toward it is expressed with 'in die Poliklinik' (to the polyclinic, accusative), while being or working there is expressed with 'in der Poliklinik' (in the polyclinic, dative).
Ich muss morgen in die Poliklinik fahren.
I have to go to the polyclinic tomorrow.
outpatient clinic / ambulance
Both an Ambulanz and a Poliklinik treat patients without admitting them as inpatients. An Ambulanz is usually a corresponding department or consultation clinic, for example in a hospital. A Poliklinik is more typically a larger health center where doctors from different specialties work.
Wegen mehrerer Beschwerden wurde Paul in der Poliklinik von Ärzten verschiedener Fachrichtungen untersucht.
Because of several complaints, Paul was examined at the polyclinic by doctors from various specialties.
Wegen seiner Augenverletzung wurde Paul in der Ambulanz des Krankenhauses untersucht.
Because of his eye injury, Paul was examined in the hospital's outpatient clinic.
