Medical facilities that provide outpatient care and treatment, typically smaller and more specialized than hospitals.
From French clinique, from Greek klinike meaning 'medical practice at the bedside', derived from kline 'bed'. The term originally referred to medical instruction given at a patient's bedside, evolving to mean the facility itself.
The first modern clinic was established in 1810 in Vienna, revolutionizing medical education by having students observe real patients rather than just studying theory. Today's minute clinics in pharmacies represent a return to accessible, community-based healthcare.
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