KOZANIS hospital is the most central hospital in the capital of KOZANIS prefecture, with the largest and multiple patient attendance compared to neighboring hospitals and the region of Western MACEDONIA
KOZANIS ICU meets the needs of Western Macedonia and not only since it is the only ICU in operation in the region. The needs that exist are of course much greater than the number of patients it can serve, while it can also develop more beds if staffed.
Her contribution is invaluable to the critically ill patients she dealt with but also to the whole hospital in general.
✔ With state-of-the-art equipment, being the 10th ICU in Greece and the 1st among the ICUs of regional hospitals that have been automated and become paperless, which makes it completely safe but at the same time effective with the tools offered by these electronic systems.
✔Ultra-modern tools such as American Bronchoscope / Laryngoscope with simultaneous visualization of LARYNGOSCOPY and BRONCHOSCOPY, unique of its kind.
✔Modern Echocardiograph with several echocardiography heads and a three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiogram head, modern and very ergonomic, where it offers the most modern imaging capabilities of echocardiography with newer techniques as well as contrast echo in difficult cases under mechanical ventilation.
✔In the ICU, transthoracic echocardiograms, lung ultrasounds are performed daily in almost all cases, blood vessels and blood clots are checked, while transesophageal echocardiograms are performed whenever deemed necessary, use of newer techniques such as contrast echo and global longitudinal strain, echocardiographic techniques that in very few ICUs in the country are performed. All are also stored on computers where the corresponding case databases and libraries have been created.
Vascular catheterizations are also performed with ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound
This daily practice contributes significantly to the educational process of the staff, but the maximum health services for the patients
✔Modern hemodialysis – hemodialysis machines, with very easy bedside placement for the patient, who needs both modern software and hardware with modern ergonomics
✔Modern monitors with specialized functions for intensive care, as well as ventilators of the last five years, awarded for their ergonomics and effectiveness, enable doctors to make specialized measurements that are done in a few ICUs in the country, such as transpulmonary pressure measurements with esophageal catheters in very difficult cases of respiratory failure
✔Latest technology beds with precision yoke and specialized mattresses for ICUs from Poland, where in KOZANIS ICU the bedridden patients have been almost zero despite their prolonged hospitalization for specific diseases such as the COVID patients
✔The implementation of medical protocols based on the European guidelines of the European Society of Intensive Care (ESCIM) is something that expresses and defines the KOZANIS ICU with an impact on the reduced mortality of patients
✔At the same time, there are almost weekly classes in the context of intensive training that are live on the internet (using the ZOOM and TEAMS platform) and anyone can watch them again from the Kozani ICU YouTube page but on its FACEBOOK page.
✔The continuous training of the staff with their participation in seminars and trainings in Greece and abroad is one of the characteristics of the ICU. Participation in intensive care conferences, Lung Ultrasound schools in ITALY, training in hemodynamic monitoring in SWITZERLAND, organization of seminars such as ILS (Immediate Life Support), participation in mechanical ventilation schools from the University of Crete, ultrasound training and many more. This educational process characterizes the ICU and we try to create the appropriate conditions and conditions (eg by increasing the staff) so that this is done more often and by more people, without second thoughts due to fatigue since the ICU staff gives their best every day.
✔Also, any doctor who can and wishes to be trained in heart ultrasounds, is offered this opportunity by working in the echocardiography laboratory of the hospital and the cardiology clinic, since the ICU of Kozani assists in its operation, by performing specialized imaging tests as provided for by the Central Health Council) for ICU doctors who must also deal with their main specialty to avoid burnout
Specifically, in this laboratory, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms, stress echo and newer echocardiography techniques are performed by the ICU staff who are both specialized and certified by the European echocardiography company. In fact, any doctor who wishes to work in the KOZANIS ICU can also be certified by the European Society of Echocardiography if he so wishes and wants to work.
In fact, a fellow doctor of the cardiology clinic has already been certified by the doctors of the ICU, in the European echocardiography exams, while at the moment a colleague from another city outside the region of Western Macedonia is monitoring the work of the laboratory (with an educational permit) in order to be certified as well .
✔With the announcement of the positions of supervisors B for the KOZANIS ICU, any doctor who comes and takes the position of an NHS doctor, can in the two years of work take the exam to obtain the title of specialization in INTENSITIVITY.
✔The KOZANIS hospital is the most complete hospital in the region in terms of the specialties available, something that also makes the operation of the ICU safe
Unfortunately, despite our efforts, various decisions that have been made (outside of KOZANIS) create problems in the operation of the ICU. I hope this will change soon because all the above that is done only in the KOZANIS hospital, regarding the region of Western Macedonia, is in danger of being lost.
