Daniel Lepidus
MILAN
American doctors in class at the San Donato hospital, the center of excellence on the outskirts of Milan specialized in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. With a double mission: to discuss new cardiac surgery techniques, but also to "study" the successful examples of the Italian health system.
New York University has chosen as its exclusive European partner for the training of its cardiac surgeons the Policlinico and the San Donato Hospital group, chaired by Professor Giuseppe Rotelli, which between 23 and 25 September will host a group of 25 American scientists, in Lombardy precisely for a refresher course that will see Italy in the chair on this occasion. A series of study meetings entitled "Comparison of national health systems and cardiovascular treatments".
"It is a real training course that will touch on various aspects of our work - explains Professor Gabriele Pelissero, vice president of the San Donato hospital group and scientific director of the Polyclinic - from management processes to clinical protocols, demonstrating an excellence that has also been recognized abroad for some time now".
Approximately 2,500 patients suffering from cardiovascular disease and heart disease are operated on in San Donato every year, with some cases recently making headlines, such as that of the Cameroonian baby of only eight weeks suffering from Ectopia cordis, an external dislocation of the heart that affects five children out of every million.
Among the specialties of San Donato there is also the surgical procedure, perfected by Professor Lorenzo Menicanti, of remodeling of the left ventricle, which will be among the topics of discussion of the workshop which will start next Tuesday.
But what does the National Health System have to teach the American one? «It is clear that these are two extreme models - Pelissero continues - but let's say that the Italian model and in particular the Lombard one are the demonstration that it is possible to offer a universal service, dedicated precisely to all citizens, maintaining excellent levels of quality, even with all the geographical differences of the case».
daniele.lepido@ilsole24ore.com
«Online the curricula of surgeons»
Il Sole 24 Ore of 09/18/2008 REGULATIONS AND TAXES p. 31
Il Sole 24 Ore of 09/18/2008 ECONOMY AND BUSINESS p. 25
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