Hospital or Clinic: Which is Better to Work In?

As a health care professional which is better, taking a job in a hospital or a clinic setting? I do cardiac ultrasound and have worked in both settings, so have unique insight into this question. I will lay out the pros and cons of each setting, and let you decide.

My first job was in a hospital. I worked for 3 years then moved over to a local clinic for 2 years then returned to the hospital where I've been ever since. Based on this, it's obvious which setting I prefer, but i'll cover both experiences.

The main, and most obvious difference between hospitals and clinics is the fact that in a hospital, you'll be working on a much more diverse patient population. Not only will you have patients that make appointments and walk in at specific times, outpatients, but you'll also have to work on patients that are actually in the hospital, inpatients.

Working on an outpatient is usually much easier than working on an inpatient, because outpatients aren't usually sick. They can walk in, tell you why they're having the test, undress themselves and do what you ask of them with little trouble. Of course this isn't true for all outpatients, but most.

Outpatients are also easier because you take them back to your room, which is all set up and ready to go. In my job I scan people's hearts with ultrasound. This job is much easier if i'm doing it in my room because I have a bed specifically set up for the test, and everything I need is already in the room.

When I go up to the hospital floors, the patients' rooms aren't set up for me. I usually have to move stuff out of the way in order to get my machine into the room and set up correctly. Also, patients' beds aren't made for doing ultrasounds so I have to work harder to get good ultrasound images.

From the sounds of the article so far, it sounds like working in a clinic dealing only with outpatients is the way to go, however I much prefer the hospital setting. There are many reasons for this:

Hospitals are more exciting- Each day I come into work I never know how my day will unfold. I have a good idea of how many outpatients i'll have because I can check the schedule, however the inpatients are a mystery until I see what's been ordered.

Also, at any moment I could be thrust into an emergency situation, having to scan someone's heart in the middle of a full code. It doesn't happen often but enough that you have to stay on your toes. Doing only outpatients day in and day out can become mind numbingly boring.

Hospitals Pay Better- When I opted to leave the hospital I did so with the understanding that the clinic was going to pay me more than I was being paid at the hospital. However, my wage was higher but I didn't make as much money as I did when I was working for the hospital. There are two reasons for this: the first is the fact that I was not getting paid to take call. That is, I wasn't getting paid to work after hours.

Taking call can be a drag, getting called in the middle of the night, but you're paid very well when it does happen. The second reason wasn't as obvious. I was having to pay a lot more out of pocket for my medical insurance.

Clinics typically don't have as much capital as do hospitals so usually the benefits package through a hospital job is better than through a private clinic. So I was being paid more hourly but was losing out from no call and paying more into my benefits.

So after working in hospitals and clinics, I would much prefer the hospital setting. Of course if you're a person that enjoys routine, and doesn't want to work after hours, the clinic setting would be perfect. If you want some excitement and make more money, then the hospital is your best option.