HEALTH CENTRES WITH EXTENDED HOURS AND MORE SERVICES - Filenews 11/8 by Marilena Panayi
It may not be known, but the personal doctors of the public sector do not close them at 3 pm. In every city, at least one health center operates until 7:30 in the evening, while in health centers outside the cities there is a doctor on standby duty on a continuous basis.
The large health centers in the cities and some in the mountainous areas do not only have personal doctors and nurses, in some there are also specialist doctors permanently, while in some specialist doctors of specific specialties, for example paediatricians, dermatologists, etc., visit a few days a week. There are also cases in which other health professionals are available in the Centers, such as physiotherapists.
A total of 36 Health Centers operate inside and outside the cities with a total of 71 personal doctors. The number of beneficiaries of the General Health System who are registered in the lists of personal doctors of OKYPY exceeded 75,500 at the end of July.
"Some of our personal doctors have 2,500 beneficiaries registered in their lists and some others fewer. In the most remote areas, the number of beneficiaries is relatively small, however we all understand the need for the presence of personal doctors in all areas of Cyprus", the director of primary care of OKYPY, Konstantinos Hatzigiannis, told "F".
"In other words, on average, our personal doctors have about 1,100 beneficiaries on their list, as well as the average of all personal doctors of the GHS. So the phenomena of the past have begun to disappear," he added.
Another "myth" that prevails for public doctors "is that they do not work in the afternoons".
In all urban centers, "at least one health center operates from 7:30 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening, while in several health centers outside the cities there is constantly a doctor on standby who serves the patients."
"Because the health centers of OKYPY work as a network, our doctors replace each other and so there is always a doctor available to whom patients can turn when they need help," said Mr. Hatzigiannis.
Specialist doctors, examinations, analyzes
Personal doctors and nurses in health centers "deal with both acute cases and cases that require short hospitalization".
"In health centers, cardiograms are also performed, as well as emergency and/or emergency cases are managed (e.g. administration of intravenous fluids/serums and corresponding treatment, treatment with bronchodilators and nebulizers/masks, administration of oxygen, monitoring with a cardioscope, etc.)"
Furthermore, "vaccinations are carried out (e.g. for seasonal flu, herpes zoster, pneumococcus, tetanus, etc.), injections of all types are given and blood samples/sampling are carried out for laboratory analyses and tests. Also, taking and evaluating vital signs (blood pressure, temperature), changing wounds and wounds, as well as blood sugar control are performed."
Regarding the laboratory tests, Mr. Hatzigiannis pointed out the fact that "they are carried out in the laboratories of the hospitals of OKYPY, which have all the necessary machinery, modern equipment and specialized laboratory human resources, ensuring the reliability and quality of the results".
In some Centers, the director of primary care of OKYPY continued, "and where there is continuous cooperation with the local government and the needs of the residents of each area are recorded, OKYPY comes and enriches its services".
For example, "some centers are visited by paediatricians, dermatologists and doctors of other specialties some days of the week, while we also have health professionals. For example, when the need for the presence of a physiotherapist was identified, a physiotherapist was placed in a center. Our goal is to meet all the needs of the residents of the various areas, inside or outside the urban centers."
Also, "there are diabetes monitoring clinics, a smoking cessation program, community nursing and recently the community midwifery program has been included. Of course, mammography machines are also operating in some centers for the purposes of the national population screening program and bone density measurement tests are also performed. Finally, we have continuous coverage from dentists."
Regarding the diabetes clinics, Mr. Hatzigiannis noted that "at the moment they operate in six centers and their expansion to centers operating in mountainous areas is being promoted".
"A great advantage for us is the fact that the Organization has its own specialist doctors as well as health professionals of all specialties. This means that where there are proven needs, we can cover them."
Construction projects everywhere – Limassol is being renovated and strengthened
"It is known that in all provinces, both in hospitals and health centers, work is underway to renovate existing structures or build new ones. In this context, primary care is also strengthened."
For example, "in Limassol, in the health center that operates in the old hospital, as the people of Limassol know it, a fundamental renovation is taking place, along with the uninterrupted operation of the center. The reality is that the center after the renovation will not resemble the current situation at all."
At the same time, in Limassol "we have the health center in Linopetra. Unfortunately, in this center, because some doctors left us to go private, a phenomenon that was recorded at the beginning of the implementation of the GHS and fortunately now tends to disappear, for the time being there is no personal doctor inside the center in the afternoon hours."
"The phenomenon of old public doctors with a large number of beneficiaries on their list leaving OKYPY and taking their beneficiaries with them cost the Organization a lot, but now we have new doctors who are "building" their lists and we observe that they are doing very well."
Six centers are already accredited
"As part of the continuous effort to upgrade and improve the services provided, six Health Centers have successfully completed the accreditation process and have received the Platinum distinction. Specifically, these are the Health Centers of Lakatamia, Latsia, Aglantzia, Engomi, Strovolos and the Health Center of the Old Hospital of Larnaca".
The goal of the Organization is "for all health centers to receive similar accreditation".
"The successful accreditation is a significant achievement and highlights the continuous effort to provide upgraded health services, focusing on quality, patient safety, continuous improvement of procedures and the implementation of internationally recognized standards and best practices."
It may not be known, but the personal doctors of the public sector do not close them at 3 pm. In every city, at least one health center operates until 7:30 in the evening, while in health centers outside the cities there is a doctor on standby duty on a continuous basis.
The large health centers in the cities and some in the mountainous areas do not only have personal doctors and nurses, in some there are also specialist doctors permanently, while in some specialist doctors of specific specialties, for example paediatricians, dermatologists, etc., visit a few days a week. There are also cases in which other health professionals are available in the Centers, such as physiotherapists.
A total of 36 Health Centers operate inside and outside the cities with a total of 71 personal doctors. The number of beneficiaries of the General Health System who are registered in the lists of personal doctors of OKYPY exceeded 75,500 at the end of July.
"Some of our personal doctors have 2,500 beneficiaries registered in their lists and some others fewer. In the most remote areas, the number of beneficiaries is relatively small, however we all understand the need for the presence of personal doctors in all areas of Cyprus", the director of primary care of OKYPY, Konstantinos Hatzigiannis, told "F".
"In other words, on average, our personal doctors have about 1,100 beneficiaries on their list, as well as the average of all personal doctors of the GHS. So the phenomena of the past have begun to disappear," he added.
Another "myth" that prevails for public doctors "is that they do not work in the afternoons".
In all urban centers, "at least one health center operates from 7:30 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening, while in several health centers outside the cities there is constantly a doctor on standby who serves the patients."
"Because the health centers of OKYPY work as a network, our doctors replace each other and so there is always a doctor available to whom patients can turn when they need help," said Mr. Hatzigiannis.
Specialist doctors, examinations, analyzes
Personal doctors and nurses in health centers "deal with both acute cases and cases that require short hospitalization".
"In health centers, cardiograms are also performed, as well as emergency and/or emergency cases are managed (e.g. administration of intravenous fluids/serums and corresponding treatment, treatment with bronchodilators and nebulizers/masks, administration of oxygen, monitoring with a cardioscope, etc.)"
Furthermore, "vaccinations are carried out (e.g. for seasonal flu, herpes zoster, pneumococcus, tetanus, etc.), injections of all types are given and blood samples/sampling are carried out for laboratory analyses and tests. Also, taking and evaluating vital signs (blood pressure, temperature), changing wounds and wounds, as well as blood sugar control are performed."
Regarding the laboratory tests, Mr. Hatzigiannis pointed out the fact that "they are carried out in the laboratories of the hospitals of OKYPY, which have all the necessary machinery, modern equipment and specialized laboratory human resources, ensuring the reliability and quality of the results".
In some Centers, the director of primary care of OKYPY continued, "and where there is continuous cooperation with the local government and the needs of the residents of each area are recorded, OKYPY comes and enriches its services".
For example, "some centers are visited by paediatricians, dermatologists and doctors of other specialties some days of the week, while we also have health professionals. For example, when the need for the presence of a physiotherapist was identified, a physiotherapist was placed in a center. Our goal is to meet all the needs of the residents of the various areas, inside or outside the urban centers."
Also, "there are diabetes monitoring clinics, a smoking cessation program, community nursing and recently the community midwifery program has been included. Of course, mammography machines are also operating in some centers for the purposes of the national population screening program and bone density measurement tests are also performed. Finally, we have continuous coverage from dentists."
Regarding the diabetes clinics, Mr. Hatzigiannis noted that "at the moment they operate in six centers and their expansion to centers operating in mountainous areas is being promoted".
"A great advantage for us is the fact that the Organization has its own specialist doctors as well as health professionals of all specialties. This means that where there are proven needs, we can cover them."
Construction projects everywhere – Limassol is being renovated and strengthened
"It is known that in all provinces, both in hospitals and health centers, work is underway to renovate existing structures or build new ones. In this context, primary care is also strengthened."
For example, "in Limassol, in the health center that operates in the old hospital, as the people of Limassol know it, a fundamental renovation is taking place, along with the uninterrupted operation of the center. The reality is that the center after the renovation will not resemble the current situation at all."
At the same time, in Limassol "we have the health center in Linopetra. Unfortunately, in this center, because some doctors left us to go private, a phenomenon that was recorded at the beginning of the implementation of the GHS and fortunately now tends to disappear, for the time being there is no personal doctor inside the center in the afternoon hours."
"The phenomenon of old public doctors with a large number of beneficiaries on their list leaving OKYPY and taking their beneficiaries with them cost the Organization a lot, but now we have new doctors who are "building" their lists and we observe that they are doing very well."
Six centers are already accredited
"As part of the continuous effort to upgrade and improve the services provided, six Health Centers have successfully completed the accreditation process and have received the Platinum distinction. Specifically, these are the Health Centers of Lakatamia, Latsia, Aglantzia, Engomi, Strovolos and the Health Center of the Old Hospital of Larnaca".
The goal of the Organization is "for all health centers to receive similar accreditation".
"The successful accreditation is a significant achievement and highlights the continuous effort to provide upgraded health services, focusing on quality, patient safety, continuous improvement of procedures and the implementation of internationally recognized standards and best practices."
