Croatian medical journal
-
Croatian medical journal · Oct 2004
Seeking quality improvement in primary care in Crete, Greece: the first actions.
To implement quality improvement programs and assess the clinical effectiveness within the primary care setting. ⋯ Primary health care in a rural setting in Crete is engaged in setting up systems for implementing clinical governance and quality programs. The Regional Authorities of Health and Welfare should provide further support.
-
Croatian medical journal · Aug 2004
International pediatric cardiac assistance in Croatia: results of the 10 year program.
In an effort to help alleviate the lack of an adequate pediatric cardiac surgical service that existed in Croatia following 1991 the International Childrens Heart Foundation (ICHF) was asked to provide the necessary surgery. Initially, this project was undertaken as a humanitarian program to provide pediatric cardiac operations. After 5 years, the Republic of Croatia financially sponsored the program. The intended purpose of the Government Sponsored Program was to provide staff education, clinical services, and the development of an organized pediatric cardiac service team in country. The surgical results of the humanitarian program and the educational and surgical results of the Government sponsored program are reported. ⋯ The combination of humanitarian and government sponsored pediatric cardiac surgical missions provided 601 Croatian children with operations. Substantial progress was made in the areas of anesthesia, perfusion, and postoperative care in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit. Despite these improvements a number of issues still exist that prevent the development of an independently functioning full service pediatric cardiac program.
-
Academic medicine seems under pressure. The revolutionary changes in the practice of medicine of the last decades, the continuing demands for educational reform, decreased appreciation of the medical profession, budgetary constraints, and a variety of medical ethical issues have shaken up academic medicine and interest in an academic career seems to be waning. ⋯ The present situation can also be perceived as a challenge, which offers new opportunities. Better appreciation of educational efforts, more emphasis on the intellectual rather than the technological challenges of modern medicine, reconsideration of the strong tendency for super-specialization, recognition of originality and dedication over academic hierarchy and rethinking of strategies for development of patient-oriented research are briefly discussed.
-
Croatian medical journal · Aug 2004
ReviewTemptation of academic medicine: second alma mater and "shared employment' concepts as possible way out?
Apparently, in developing and in well-developed societies we are confronted with a crisis of academic medicine in all aspects: health care, teaching, and research. Health care providers in teaching hospitals are under pressure to generate revenues, academic research is pressed to keep pace with institutions devoted solely to research, and teaching is often understood not as privilege and honor but as burden and nuisance. ⋯ Most academic exchange programs developed so far have proved to be ineffective and of poor vitality, in spite of loud exclamations, high expectations, and a huge amount of good will involved. In contrast, the suggested cooperation will be based exclusively on mutual interest and clearly defined benefits for all involved parties.