Definition

Noun: 1. A facility or complex providing a range of medical services: A "medical center" is a place, often a large building or group of buildings, where various healthcare services, treatments, and specialists are available in one location. 2. The part of a city where medical facilities are centered: In urban planning, a "medical center" can refer to a district or area within a city that contains a high concentration of hospitals, clinics, and related health institutions.

Usage Examples

• As a healthcare facility:
  • She went to the medical center for her annual check-up and to see a specialist.
  • The university's medical center is renowned for its research and patient care.
• As an urban area:
  • The city's medical center is located downtown, surrounded by several major hospitals.

Advanced Usage

• "Academic medical center": A major hospital that is closely affiliated with a medical school and university, emphasizing patient care, research, and the education of future doctors.
  • He was treated at a leading academic medical center that pioneered the new surgical technique.

Variants and Related Words

• Medical complex (n): A group of interconnected buildings dedicated to medical care. This is often used synonymously with "medical center" in its first meaning.
• Clinic (n): A smaller facility for outpatient care, often focusing on a specific type of medicine or serving a local community. A clinic can be part of a larger medical center.
• Hospital (n): An institution providing inpatient medical and surgical treatment. A hospital is often the central component of a medical center.

Synonyms

• Health center
• Healthcare facility
• Hospital complex (for the first meaning)

Related Phrases

• Outpatient medical center: A facility designed specifically for treatments and procedures that do not require an overnight stay.
  • The outpatient medical center handles minor surgeries and diagnostic tests.

Noun

1. the part of a city where medical facilities are centered