![\"Russian](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/07\/clinic-1024x680.jpg\")
By \u0418\u043e\u0441\u0438\u043f\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e \u0410\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0440 \u0414\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0438\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0447 (IosAD3) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>], via Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Most of what is called primary care abroad is delivered through a network of state-run facilities called \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0438\u043a\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (“polyclinics”). It is basically a community-based clinic for people living in a certain neighborhood (\u0440\u0430\u0439\u043e<\/span>\u043d<\/strong>) that provides general practitioner\/primary care physician (\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0430\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u0442<\/strong>) services, specialist services, lab work (\u0430\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0437\u044b<\/strong>), and medical tests (\u043c\u0435\u0434\u0438\u0446\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u043e\u0431\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong>). Some doctors, called \u0443\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 \u0432\u0440\u0430\u0447<\/strong>, will make house calls (this service is called\u00a0\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0437\u043e\u0432 \u043d\u0430<\/span> \u0434\u043e\u043c<\/strong>) for those needing urgent care. If you have a health insurance policy (\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0441 \u043c\u0435\u0434\u0438\u0446\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0445\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong>, often just \u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0441<\/strong>), many basic services will be free.<\/p>\n There are also private clinics (\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043a\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438<\/strong>) where you will likely have to pay, but the service may be more patient-centered. \u0411\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0446\u044b<\/strong> (hospitals) often specialize in a certain area of medicine and provide in-patient services (\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0431\u044b\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0432 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0446\u0438\u043e\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0435<\/strong>) \u2014 people refer to being admitted to a hospital as “\u043b\u0435\u0447\u044c \u0432 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0446\u0443<\/strong>” (being in [a] hospital is “\u043b\u0435\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0446\u0435<\/strong>“).<\/p>\n You will normally want to make an appointment to see a doctor \u2014 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0451\u043c\/\u0432\u0437\u044f\u0442\u044c \u0442\u0430\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043d \u043a<\/strong> + dative for a provider\u00a0or \u0437\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f\/\u0432\u0437\u044f\u0442\u044c \u0442\u0430\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043d \u043d\u0430<\/strong> + accusative for a procedure. \u0422\u0430\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043d<\/strong> refers to the literal slip of paper with the details of your appointment. You can make your appointment in person (\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e<\/strong>) or over the phone (\u043f\u043e \u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0444\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0443<\/strong>). Nowadays organizations may handle appointments electronically.<\/p>\n Electronic appointment terminal\/\/Domowenock.cuzya<\/a> [GFDL<\/a> or CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>], via Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/p><\/div>Walk-ins (\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0451\u043c \u0431\u0435\u0437 \u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0438<\/strong>) are also available, especially for the \u0442\u0435\u0440\u0430\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u0442<\/strong> or \u0443\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 \u0432\u0440\u0430\u0447<\/strong> mentioned above. However, the line (\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044c<\/strong>) may be quite long. In this case, it is called \u0436\u0438\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u044f \u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044c<\/strong> (a “live” line, meaning first come, first served) as opposed to \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0451\u043c \u043f\u043e \u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0438\/\u043f\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u043c<\/strong> (scheduled visits). To join the line, you would ask: “\u041a\u0442\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0439?<\/strong>” (“Who’s the last person in line?”) and keep track of that person.<\/p>\n Traditionally, you would need to first check-in at \u0440\u0435\u0433\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u0430<\/strong> (check-in window), usually located on the ground\/first floor of the building. There, the receptionist would either start or find your patient chart (\u0437\u0430\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/strong> or \u043d\u0430\u0439\u0442\u0438<\/span> \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0442\u0443 \u043f\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u0430<\/strong>, respectively), which have until recently been exclusively on paper.<\/p>\n Image from Martin aka Maha<\/a> on flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n You would then take your chart and go upstairs to find the room (\u043a\u0430\u0431\u0438\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0442<\/strong>) of the medical provider you are looking for. Sometimes the staff has the chart sent up to the office because they don’t want patients tampering with records (not very patient-empowering, I know). You would wait your turn in line in the hallway outside the office door. American-style waiting rooms (\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0451\u043c\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439<\/strong>) where you are called in from are uncommon.<\/p>\n1. Where Do I Go?<\/h2>\n
2. Do I Need An Appointment?<\/h2>\n
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![\"Touchscreen](\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File%3A%D0%9B%D1%83%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0.JPG\")
3. Where’s The Waiting Room?<\/h2>\n
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