INVESTORS IN MSK
attention. We needed to offer our patients more
complex treatment, and in some cases, introduce
services that were missing. Currently, we managed
to complete most of our strategic goals, with only
a couple of exceptions, within a short in of time.
“
Currently,
we managed to complete
most of our strategic goals,
with only a couple of exceptions,
within a short amount of time.
”
You have accomplished some major goals since
starting in your position at the hospital: You
opened a Obesity Treatment Center, a Sleep
Laboratory and also a reservation office, to just
name a few. What is your next goal? Are you
planning anything major for the hospital this year?
We have about thirty projects lined up for this year,
some of them are larger than others.
Since the hospital’s founding in 1969, local citizens
have been calling for Haví řov to get its own
Orthopedic Clinic. Having long waiting times in
Czechia‘s hospital‘s is nothing new, patients have
to wait quite a while to, for example, get a hip and
joint replacement, and the pandemic only extended
these waiting times. One of our goals, therefore, is
to offer Haví řov citizens a large Orthopedic Clinic,
so that they do not have to travel to other cities
to get treatment. We should be able to conduct
our first orthopedic surgeries around the middle
of this year.
“
Our Urology Clinic
has reached a level comparable
to top class clinics
and University hospitals
around the country.
”
Another significant milestone that we hit was
becoming Czechia’s 13th hospital to receive
approval from the Ministry of Health and
Instrument Commission to implement Robotic
Surgery. The Haví řov hospital currently possesses
all four clinics that make use of this technology
(mainly urology, general surgery, gynecology, and
otorhinolaryngology). Thanks to this, our hospital
may also serve as a Regional Education Center
for Robotic Surgery. I believe that in 10-20 years,
robots will be a part of every major hospital.
We have also built a top Mammography Clinic,
where we are striving to obtain the status of
a screening center, we are renovating and opening
a top sextepartum by the end of the year, we are
building a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. In short,
there is plenty to look forward to.
What do you think makes the Havířov hospital
special? Why do patients from nearby towns and
cities make the trip to your hospital?
In general, the hospital is unique for the complexity of
the care that it can provide. Not all city hospitals are
equipped to provide the optimal spectrum of care,
which allows patients to get complete treatment in
a single facility. The quality of care within some of
our departments has started attracting people from
outside the region as well, for example, our Urology
clinic has reached a level comparable to top class
Clinics and University hospitals around the country.
Other departments that have reached a similar
level include our Hemato-oncology, Psychiatry,
the aforementioned Center for the Treatment of
Obesity and our Maternity Ward. Our Maternity
Ward has become sought after not only by local
patients, but even by those from far away, for
example in Slovakia.
Another significant milestone
“
that we hit was becoming Czechia’s
13th hospital to receive approval
to implement Robotic Surgery.
”
What is your view on the cooperation with
the city government, and how do you plan to
develop this relationship in the future?
Our current relationship with the city government
is in a great place, the city considers the hospital as
part of its services. The city supports the hospital
even though it is not it‘s operator. Each year, we
revise the hospital’s needs, and try to focus on
something that is not only a part of the healthcare
we provide, but also something that is a part of
what the locals need specifically. This motivates the
local government to pitch in and help the citizens.
How do you, as a hospital director, manage all
the pressure put on you? Do you have a favorite
place in the MS region where you go to clear your
head?
Definitely the Medvědí Skála. I take this trail to
Lysá mountain multiple times a year on either skis
or a bike. Once you have gotten part way up this
trek, you come upon a curious rock formation,
that is Medvědí Skála. When you climb up, it
offers a great vantage point with a beautiful view
of the Ostravice valley. Being there reminds me
of the feeling one gets when reaching the peak of
a very tall mountain, the feeling of being incredibly
small when compared to the large expanse of
the universe.
Mr. Schellong, thank you for the interview.
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