Česky
"The reason why the centre was established in Butovice is simple - to get closer to patients in Prague," explains Jiří Pichlík, director of the diagnostic centre. AKESO now operates mainly in Central Bohemia, where it has hospitals in Beroun and Hořovice, and also runs the Multiscan Oncology and Radiology Centre, which is part of the Complex Oncology Centre of the Pardubice Region. And since the Hořovice Hospital now has many patients from Prague, the linking of the Butovice centre to it has brought care closer to the patients and has also benefited the reputation of our hospital.
The first intentions to establish a diagnostic centre were born five years ago, and this April the facility was opened on the basis of a polyclinic with high-quality diagnostics. "We are proud of the fact that even in times of acute crisis, we have managed to open another facility," says Petra Horáková, spokesperson for the Hořovice hospital.
"We have a whole spectrum of outpatient clinics here, which mainly focus on specialized care for children, but also for adults. However, we wanted to meet the demand for paediatric specialists in particular, which is care that is otherwise available with longer waiting times. We are betting on the fact that we are trying to provide short appointment times. We have a paediatric gynaecologist, which is a narrow specialty, two paediatricians who specialise in pneumology and allergy, a doctor who specialises in paediatric nutritional counselling and a paediatric radiologist," says Jiří Pichlík, adding that the appointment time for an MRI scan is up to one week, while individual outpatient clinics usually have an appointment time of about two weeks.
By the end of the year, the centre plans to expand further
As part of the care for young patients, Butovice also offers paediatric cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics and physiotherapy, as well as a consultancy for newborns at risk, a paediatric urology consultancy and a paediatric consultancy for haemangiomas - and of course a general practitioner for children and adolescents. In addition, there is also a gynaecologist and prenatal diagnostics.
"We have Dr. Polacek, who focuses mainly on prenatal diagnostics. He has a modernly equipped outpatient clinic with a new sonographic machine, one of the most modern available," says Jiří Pichlík, adding that thanks to the examination, it is possible to detect birth defects in time and possibly plan treatment (or, in the worst case, terminate the pregnancy).
Children in particular, but also adults, will appreciate the fact that the Butovice centre's modern facilities do not resemble a medical facility. Moreover, waiting for an examination is made easier by a robot, which greets small patients and can dance for them on request.
As far as the care of adult patients is concerned, the Butovice polyclinic also has an orthopaedic surgeon, a rheumatologist and now a neurologist. "We will continue to expand the spectrum - we want to have comprehensive care. We still have spare capacity where we can expand the outpatient clinics further, and we hope to fill them by the end of the year. In doing so, we want to strengthen both the children's and adult parts. Rheumatology is in great demand, so we would like to strengthen that, and there is a question of whether to introduce an adult GP. This is under discussion," says Pichlík.
Video glasses will make resonance more comfortable for young patients
The Butovice centre also has one of the most modern three-tesla MRIs in the country. For children or people with anxiety about cramped spaces, video goggles and headphones, through which a film can be played, can make the examination easier and more pleasant.
"It is often a problem for children to be able to lie still for the examination to take place as it should. In this way, the examination becomes more comfortable and the child does not need to be sedated," says Jiří Pichlík.
A new feature from 6 September is the extension of the MRI operating hours from Monday to Thursday until 10 pm so that the centre can accommodate working patients who do not have to take time off work. In case of increased patient demand, they are ready to open weekend hours as well.
Closer to patients
As can be seen, the choice of outpatient clinics in the Butovice centre is related to the Hořovice Hospital and the Rehabilitation Hospital Beroun. "The idea is that a pregnant woman will come to the gynaecology department, can receive all her pregnancy care here, then give birth in the Hořovice maternity hospital and then return here for care. The same applies to orthopaedics and subsequent rehabilitation at the Beroun hospital. We simply wanted to be closer to our patients," explains Petra Horáková.
The centre gained capacity both by delegating from existing facilities and (for the most part) by recruiting new specialists. Now the facility would like to recruit another paediatric neurologist, a rheumatologist, a gynaecologist and possibly an internist. As far as nurses are concerned, the centre has enough of them, but there are vacancies in radiology assistants.
AKESO offers its employees a number of benefits. Aside from working in a modern, new and pleasantly furnished workplace, there is a nursery school and suburban camps during the summer, just like for the employees from the hospitals in Hořovice and Beroun. In addition, employees have access to premium, above-standard care for themselves and their family members, receive five weeks of vacation, pension contributions and education, such as English courses. MultiSport cards are also added, and weekend or weekly stays organised directly by AKESO Holding are also subsidised.
Find out more about the Diagnostic Centre of the Hořovice Hospital on the website dcnh.cz.
