Activity of the international anesthesia training centre in Moldova

Abstract

During the First International Congress of the Society of Anesthesiology Reanimatology of the Republic of Moldova was organized a meeting of the WFSA, ESA/NASC, SARRM, FEEA officials and Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova. The conclusion of the meeting was that for better anesthesia Moldova needs support in continuous education, improvement in technical&material, equipment & technologies and implementation of modern standards of care in the fild. During the Congress, invited speakers and WFSA, ESA/NASC officials beside teaching and presentation activity visited many hospitals for creating an impression documentation of the current situation. Decision to focus efforts in improvement of situation in anesthesia was made: in short time after Congress, in December 2007 was organized First Course in Pediatric Anesthesia in Moldova. Why pediatrics – the answer is clear: because together with obstetric anesthesia this are the most vulnerable subspecialties in current created situation in Moldova (political and social instability, poorly developed economy, lack of equipment, medical insurance system in development, lack of modern equipment and drugs in anesthesia). The First Course was organized on 19-21 December and had many aspects: training of trainers: Moldavian anesthesiologist Gabriela Munteanu had a fellowship in Switzerland in the field of pediatric anesthesia, and together with Markus Schily she prepared and translated presentations for course in Moldova; donation of a fully modern equipped ADU anesthesia station to be used for training and clinical activity; promotion of the project among politicians, Ministry of Health officials, businessmen’s etc. The course took place at the Centre of Mother and Child in Chisinau, and had such a format not to disturb clinical activity: morning lectures followed by clinical activity in OR, demonstrating advantages of modern equipment and drugs, then in the afternoon presentations and discussion of the cases performed in the OR. After the success of the first course, next courses were organized in 3 more different hospitals: Republican Pediatric Hospital “Emilian Cotaga”, Chisinau, Municipal Hospital Balti, Municipal Pediatric Hospital “Valentin Ignatenco” Chisinau. As lecturers were involved local speakers (Lidia Dolghier, Gabriela Munteanu, Angela Maniuc) and invited ones: Markus Schily, Switzerland, Josef Holzki, Germany, Iacob Katz, Israel. Clinical teaching and recently virtual teaching models have partly replaced the old model of frontal lectures. Small group teaching, in combination with short lectures and clinical teaching have been implemented first time in an ongoing pediatric anesthesia course. This project leaded to the foundation of the IATC (International Anesthesia Teaching Center). The institution of IATC understands itself as a bridge between the professional societies, ministries of health, hospital directors and physicians. Beside education, IATC is consulting how to improve quality and safety in hospitals and anesthesia. IATC – Moldova is the name of the Moldavian branch of IATC. Other IATC branches exist in between in Serbia and Croatia. All work under the same philosophy of “Safe Anesthesia, Safe Surgery”. The IATC - Moldova build up 3 new teaching centers: The emergency hospital (for adults), the Center of Mother and Child and the IATC mobile. The somehow difficult task of finding resources for equipment needed innovative thinking, and close cooperation with the government of Moldova and Germany, and the WFSA and ESA. The IATC is grateful for offered support and sponsor activity of WFSA, ESA/NASC, SARRM, Ministry of Heralth of the Republic of Moldova, German Governament, medical industrial companies.