On Thursday 26 October, another meeting of the Business Convention at the Fahrenheit Universities was held and this time it was organised at the Medical University of Gdańsk. The hosts presented the processes and solutions implemented at one of the most modern medical centres in Poland – the University Clinical Centre (UCK). The participants were also able to visit the facility and explore selected issues through discussion.

The session was opened by prof. Michał Markuszewski, Vice-Rector for Science at the Medical University of Gdańsk, who welcomed the guests and presented the topics of the meeting.

The dynamic development of new technologies is revolutionising almost every area of our lives. Understanding the importance of and the need for such development, both the Medical University of Gdańsk and its subordinate medical entities undertake relevant activities for innovation in medicine – said prof. M. Markuszewski. – This is not a one-off action, but a component of a consistently implemented strategy.

In his presentation later in the meeting, prof. Markuszewski also discussed the prevailing trends in Poland and the world in the field of medicine. Still before the main part of the session, Zbigniew Canowiecki Ph.D., chairman of the Convention, briefly summarised the activities undertaken since the last meeting, and announced the topic of the next session, which was to focus on the energy sector.

In the first speech, prof. Tomasz Smiatacz, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs at the MUG, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, in a brief historical outline, emphasized epidemiological experiences and their peculiar traits, the analysis of which may help in the diagnosis and prevention of further viral threats.

– Viruses are increasing their transmissibility at the expense of pathogenicity. We have virologists, biotechnologists, pharmacologists, including a pharmaceutical company, here in Pomerania and the FarU – argued prof. T. Smiatacz. – It is worth looking at these processes, prepare for future pandemics, even if the toolbox is to be virtual.

The topic of one of the biggest killers of the 21^st century, the coronary heart disease, was introduced to the participants by prof. Marcin Fijałkowski, Coordinator of the Structural Heart Disease Clinic of the 1^st Department of Cardiology of the University Clinical Centre. He discussed the most important aspects of the disease, which statistically causes more than 50% of deaths after the age of 35.

Then, prof. Marcin Matuszewski, Head of the Department of Urology at the MUG, talked about the use of robotic techniques in surgery and explained the course of a sample surgery with the support of non-autonomous robots under the surgeon's control. He emphasised that currently this is robot assistance, but further improvements and analysis of the data collected may lead to the automation of minor, minimally invasive procedures in the future.

– We, too, can participate in innovation. We are not doomed to buy an off-the-shelf solution and use it. For example, we are currently in the process of developing one of the technologies in collaboration with a third party company.

How innovative a hospital can be, but in terms of logistics, was discussed by dr Adam Sudoł, Deputy Director for Medical Logistics at the University Clinical Centre, who also invited Małgorzata Dąbrowska, M.Sc., Head of the Central Clinical Laboratory and the University Clinical Centre, to take the floor. The latter speaker presented statistics, reasons and the pathway for introducing automation into selected laboratory processes. 

– Professor Fijałkowski spoke of the fact that doctors have a short time to intervene in the case of a heart attack, and we are also involved in this process. We need to submit the result as quickly as possible, so as not to extend the time for the application of the right therapy. For this reason, the time from receipt of the material to obtaining the result is crucial for us.

In the final presentation, dr Dariusz Split focused on technological solutions that enable efficient surveys among patients. During the presentation, he emphasized not only the opinion polling process itself, but also the second purpose of implementing such activities, which is linked to encouraging students to initiate interaction with patients and strive for more effective communication.

The presentations were followed by a question and answer session. Agnieszka Kapała-Sokalska, a member of the Pomerania Region Management Board, also present at the meeting, took the floor and expressed her approval of the initiatives undertaken by medical institutions and entities in the Pomerania Region. In a short speech, she listed selected innovations undertaken in the region in recent years, for example inventing a cystic fibrosis drug and the funding of procedures that make it possible to perform urological or gynaecological surgeries with the use of robotics.

The participants were then divided into four groups and given a tour of the University Clinical Centre, where they became familiar with innovations implemented at the facility. Those interested in the tour were able to see, for example, what automation looks like on the example of several samples in the diagnostic laboratory or take a closer look at the work of a robot in the Hospital Pharmacy.

fot. GREGMAR