Customer
Customer
Customer (pronunciation: /ˈkʌstəmər/) is a term used in the field of business and commerce to refer to an individual or entity that purchases goods or services from a seller. The term is derived from the Old French costumier, meaning 'customs officer', and later 'trader', which in turn is derived from the Latin consuetudinarius, meaning 'customary or habitual'.
Definition
A customer is defined as a party that receives or consumes products (goods or services) and has the ability to choose between different products and suppliers. In the context of healthcare, a customer can refer to a patient who seeks medical services, or a healthcare provider that purchases medical supplies.
Types of Customers
There are several types of customers in the business world, including:
- End user: The person who actually uses the product or service. In healthcare, this could be a patient using a medical device or a doctor using a diagnostic tool.
- Business customer: A business that purchases goods or services for use in its operations. For example, a hospital buying medical equipment.
- Reseller: A business that purchases goods or services with the intention of selling them to end users. For example, a pharmacy selling prescription drugs.
Customer in Healthcare
In the healthcare industry, the term customer can refer to both patients and other healthcare providers. Patients are customers because they seek and pay for medical services. Healthcare providers are customers because they purchase medical supplies and equipment from manufacturers and distributors.
Related Terms
- Consumer: While often used interchangeably with customer, a consumer specifically refers to an individual who purchases goods or services for personal use, not for manufacture or resale.
- Client: In some contexts, client can be used as a synonym for customer. However, in the healthcare field, a client often refers to a patient in a long-term care setting.
- Patient: In healthcare, a patient is a type of customer who receives medical care or services.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Customer
- Wikipedia's article - Customer
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