Česky
Last year you expanded outpatient clinics and services for patients, and more innovations are planned for 2024. What is the vision for the expansion of the clinic? Are you proceeding on the basis of demand or do you have a vision of what the polyclinic should look like?
It's a combination of both. Firstly, of course, we are orienting ourselves according to the interest of the patients; we already have a good overview of what is of greatest interest in the three years of operation. And of course it is important for us that the clinic fits into our overall structure, that the disciplines help each other and that care builds on each other.
How is the polyclinic interconnected with other AKESO departments?
Very closely. We see the AKESO POLICLINIC as an outpost of the Hořovice Hospital and the Beroun Rehabilitation Hospital for our patients from Prague and the surrounding area. We have a number of indication clinics here, where we are able to provide complete care for a patient who is indicated for an operative procedure. If necessary, we will perform pre-operative examinations, take blood, perform imaging, MRI, ultrasound or X-ray and refer patients to our sister facilities for the actual procedures. Last year alone, we referred 495 patients from the clinic for procedures. These are mainly orthopaedic operations at the Centre for Day Surgery in Beroun or paediatric patients operated on at the Hořovice Hospital, and of course services linked to the Hořovice Maternity Hospital. We have a gynaecological outpatient clinic where doctors come directly from Hořovice and perform screenings in the first and second trimesters as well as monitors in the last stage of pregnancy. The advantage for the patients is that they meet the same doctor in the outpatient clinic in Prague, during the procedure in the hospital and then again in Prague for check-ups. In addition, we have all the documentation linked together, working in one system, and we can eliminate the risk of errors.
The polyclinic has gradually expanded from one floor in building A to two floors and last year to the new building D. Are you planning further expansion in Nové Butovice?
We have expanded from the original first floor space of 1000 m2 to a total area of 2300 m2. We have added a number of new features, such as a complete dental clinic. Last year we also added physiotherapy, paediatric gastroenterology and psychiatry, counselling for eating disorders in children, paediatric and adult nutritional therapists, plastic surgery and many more. We have expanded pediatric cardiology, added a surgical and proctology outpatient clinic and a bariatric clinic, a jaw joint clinic and more. This year we plan to expand into other areas within our complex. We are already in discussions with the landlord about options.
How do you manage to staff so many services?
The staffing mix is diverse. In addition to our core staff, we have a number of doctors from sister facilities or other hospitals on a part-time basis. There are currently 100 staff, half of whom are doctors. I think we are a bright exception among medical institutions, we have no turnover at all at the moment - all those who started with us three years ago are still working here today. We have a great team of people here, and happy employees act as a magnet for others. We have a benefits system in place for referring new colleagues. Healthcare is a small pond and the reputation of an employer quickly spreads. Fortunately, we have managed to build an environment where people are happy.
What do you perceive as a weak point?
The biggest problem we have is when patients don't turn up for appointments or apologise at the last minute. All of our outpatient clinics are very busy, and we try to operate efficiently to accommodate everyone who wants to come to us. Dropping a patient at the last minute is difficult for us and we are not always able to fill the vacancy. It then remains unnecessarily empty, although there are other people waiting who are interested in coming. In addition, we book patients for a specific time compared to many other clinics so that they do not have to spend long hours in the waiting room, so it is also important that they come really on time.
