a clinic is a medical facility that gives health care for patients in an area. it is different from a hospital, because people do not stay in a clinic for a long time. some clinics can become as large as hospitals, but still have the name clinic. small clinics are run by one or more general practitioners or practice managers. physiotherapy clinics are run by physiotherapists, psychology clinics run by clinical psychologists, and so on for each type of health care. some clinics are operated, or run, by employers. other clinics are owned by people who do not have medical education, like in china.