Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Hospital and Daugavpils Regional Hospital successfully cooperate in exchanging experience and updating advanced medical technologies.

Such opportunities are opened for both medical institutions by the implemented project No. LLI-396 “Hospital cooperation in creating effective surgical services management in the cross -border region (Hospitals for CBC)” under priority 4 of the Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania Cross-Border Cooperation Program “Better quality of life by strengthening the efficiency of public services and administration”. The aim of the project is to encourage hospital cooperation in creating effective management of surgical services in border regions.

Zigmantas Urniežius, the head of the Surgery Clinic of Kaunas hospital, says that the project is developing cooperation between Latvian and Lithuanian hospitals in various fields. “This communication also includes communication and education, because by communicating with Latvian colleagues we exchange information, scientific and practical experience, improve our qualifications, and organize internships,” said Z. Urniežius.

Two groups of 5 employees each from Daugavpils regional hospital completed internships at Kaunas hospital, who got acquainted with the organization of operative work and monitored the performance of operations. In turn, trainees of Kaunas hospital visited Daugavpils regional hospital on February last year. Lecturers from Daugavpils regional hospital in 2019. February 17 conducted experience exchange trainings on the topic “Oncological Pathologies”, and in turn, specialists of LSMU Kaunas Hospital on May 21 this year organized training “Minimally invasive laparoscopic operations” for Latvian colleagues.

During the last three years, 11 seminars on various management topics were organized, vocational trainings “Minimally invasive endovascular treatment of varicose veins” and “Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for groin hernias” were organized. During these trainings modern endovascular varicose veins of the legs and laparoscopic abdominal hernia surgeries were demonstrated live and broadcasted to the training audience.

This year vocational training for doctors “Provision of specific surgical services (performance of operations)” was organized on April 23. Vocational training “Minimally invasive laparoscopic colon surgery” was organized on May 14.  International conference on the topic “Minimally invasive (laparoscopic, endoscopic) emergency surgery methods” with more than 60 participants from partners’ and other health institutions was organized on June 4 of 2021.

During the project, an image management system was acquired at the Surgery and Diagnostics Clinics of Kaunas Hospital. The video recording equipment used in the Surgery Clinic allows to store the images of operations in the digital archive, to view them during doctor’s meetings, to use them in conference reports, when rarer cases accompanied by various non-standard solutions are presented. “After implementing these technologies, we can expand the training base, enriching it with the possibility to broadcast live or recorded images from operating rooms to training rooms,” says Z. Urniežius.

During the project, the medical information storage server was updated and enlarged at the Diagnostic Clinic, where radiological images are archived. The updated MedDream medical imaging program provides physicians with a more convenient and accurate view of surgical images and radiological examinations.

Meanwhile, project partner Daugavpils regional hospital has installed a conference hall with multimedia equipment for students, residents and staff training.

The project started in July 1 of 2018 and will end on June 30 of 2021. A total of EUR 229,229.18 was allocated to Kaunas hospital in the project budget, of which EUR 49,026 was allocated for education, EUR 144,118 for the purchase of hardware and software, and other funds for project administration, organization of activities, project publicity and audit. The project partner, Daugavpils Regional Hospital, received EUR 181,496.56. The total value of the project is EUR 410,725.74, of which EUR 349,116.87 (85%) is the European Regional Development Fund co-financing.

Prepared by the Project Manager Andrius Statkevičius, andrius.statkeivicius@kaunoligonine.lt

Project information is available at the following link:

https://2014-2020.latlit.eu/lli-396-hospital-cooperation-in-creating-an-effective-surgical-services-management-in-the-cross-border-region-hospitals-for-cbc/

Program website: www.latlit.eu

Official EU website: www.europa.eu

The content of this information is the sole responsibility of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Hospital and is under no circumstances an official position of the European Union.