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.
hospital
'Krankenhaus' and 'Poliklinik' both have to do with medical treatment. The important difference is the stay. In a 'Krankenhaus', patients can also be admitted as inpatients, meaning they stay there and spend the night. In a 'Poliklinik', patients are examined and treated, but normally not admitted as inpatients. Doctors from different specialties often work there. The words can be confusing because you get medical help in both places. For a longer stay or surgery, people are more likely to say 'Krankenhaus'; for outpatient treatment, 'Poliklinik' is more likely.
Der Mitarbeiter hat morgen einen Termin in der Poliklinik für eine Untersuchung.
The employee has an appointment at the polyclinic tomorrow for an examination.
Muss ich nach der Operation im Krankenhaus bleiben?
Do I have to stay in the hospital after the surgery?