ambulatories

Ambulatories is the plural form of ambulatorium, a term with two main uses in English: architectural and medical. The word derives from Latin ambulatorius, meaning “for walking,” reflecting its original association with walking spaces that accompany or surround other features.

In architectural usage, an ambulatory is a covered passage that runs around the inside or outside of a church, chapel, or cloister. Ambulatories often connect radiating chapels or ancillary spaces and allow pilgrims or worshippers to move around the building without entering the central or sacred areas. In medieval and later European architecture, ambulatories are commonly found behind the main apse or choir and may be semicircular or circular, forming a continuous ring or gallery. The term remains relevant to describe these specific circulation spaces in church design.

In medical usage, ambulatory refers to care delivered on an outpatient basis, contrasting with inpatient care that requires admission to a hospital. Ambulatory care encompasses clinics, diagnostic services, and procedures that do not require an overnight stay. The plural ambulatories is sometimes used to denote multiple outpatient facilities or departments within a healthcare system, particularly in British English. In modern healthcare, ambulatory care is a central component of efficient, patient-centered services, including ambulatory surgery centers, community clinics, and dermatology or primary care outpatient clinics.

Overall, ambulatories describe walking-related passages in historic architecture and outpatient medical services in contemporary health systems, sharing a root meaning related to walking or movement.