Spirit of Excellent Award recipient Prof Hrvoje Budinčević donned a patient’s vest for a hands-on simulation workshop that stretched over two days during the 36th Summer Stroke School in Croatia.
The International Postgraduate Neurology & Stroke Course Program took place from 1 to 5 June in Dubrovnik, which is the setting for this annual event. The simulation at General Hospital Dubrovnik was part of the conference program. The intensive two-day practical simulation format was introduced for the first time within the framework of this annual conference. Participants included physicians from Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia.
Prof. Hrvoje Budinčević, who is also the main organizer of the conference, supported the organization of the simulation, which included transferring participants between the hospital and conference venue.
He took an active role in proceedings by playing the patient, with Dr Dijana Osman, Head of ED at General Hospital “Dr Tomislav Bardek” Koprivnica, in the role of concerned relative.
In her presentation before the simulation, Angels consultant Maria Sheverdina focused on the Angels Regions concept and highlighted the results achieved in Croatia. Dr Dijana Osman presented real patient cases from their hospital and showed how the implementation of Angels tools significantly reduced door-to-treatment times, with a clear positive impact on patient outcomes. General Hospital “Dr Tomislav Bardek” Koprivnica has won multiple ESO Angels Awards.
On day two of the simulation, a debriefing session including a sticker exercise with all participants was held during the conference. The debriefing itself lasted half a day, which clearly reflects the high level of engagement from the audience, Maria says. “It raised fruitful discussions between the physicians who shared their real pathways in the hospitals.”
“As Prof. Budinčević pointed out, this type of discussion and hands-on training is not only useful – it also shows how engaged the medical audience is in this topic and how important it is to dedicate sufficient attention to it.”
