Please describe what you would see as the

Hospitals and Clinics

There are advantages to working in either a hospital or a medical clinic. A person studying to become a cardiologist, for example, may be contemplating whether or not to work in a hospital after medical training or whether to work in a clinic. The ideal practice for this person would depend on what they are looking for in a medical setting. While a hospital is generally larger and can accommodate patients whose illnesses are serious enough to require an overnight or longer term stay, a clinic is usually smaller than the hospital and is best suited for outpatient procedures that aren't considered emergencies.

Sometimes it is difficult to determine when the patient should be sent to a hospital or a medical clinic. A person with severe chest pains should probably always go to the hospital emergency room instead of a clinic, because there could be serious issues such as blocked arteries that will require surgery to unblock them and several days stay at the hospital. Even though the cardiologist can unblock the arteries in a reasonable short amount of time, the patient may have up to 99% blockage which means he could be dead within a day if not for the surgery. A procedure such as this may be best performed at the hospital given the severity of the blockage and the requirement of at least a few days of recuperation at the hospital.

As for the soon to be cardiologist, she must have a good sense of what type of environment is suited to her personally. Working in a hospital may provide greater opportunities to perform and perfect surgical procedures. The pace will most definitely be faster than in a clinic as well as the opportunities for advancement. The new cardiologist will also have the opportunity to have mentors in her new field that can guide her on her professional career path. Since they have experience, they would serve as a great source and wealth of information for her as well as a sounding board when she is frustrated about certain aspects of the job. There will also be greater opportunities to meet, converse with and work with people from a variety of backgrounds.

The new cardiologist would also fare well by working in a clinic right after training. The pace of a clinic may sometimes be slower than that of a hospital and the patients treated there are usually not in a state of emergency. This does not diminish the importance of any cardiologist choosing to work in a medical clinic over a hospital. This slower pace may give the new cardiologist ample time to get acclimated to the procedures that she will be performing. It will also give her a longer time to perfect her surgery skills. Because clinics are typically smaller than hospitals, the cardiologist will have the opportunity to form close bonds with her colleagues.