In Udine we were warmly welcomed by Renzo Moreale, head of the Erasmus program at the Università degli Studi di Udine. At the hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia we received an insight into the hospital’s simulation centre by Stefano Fabris. After that one of the hospital’s nurse managers presented the structure and organization of the hospital as well as its cooperation with other hospitals in this region. After lunch we got an insight into different training options of nursing staff at the university’s nursing department. Interestingly, the university, unlike CUAS, also offers a joint master’s degree for Nursing and Midwifery Sciences. Another aspect, we were introduced to, were the various services of community health care. We ended the day with a bus trip to Ljubljana and dinner at a local Slovenian restaurant.
Our second day started with a visit to the Ministry of Health, where Jošar Dušan and Mircha Poldrugovac provided an overview of Slovenia's healthcare system as well as an insight into public health issues. In the afternoon Bernd Andersson from the Austrian AußenwirtschaftsCentre Ljubljana presented the tasks of Advantage Austria abroad highlighting the support of Austrian companies in Slovenia. Rebeka Žerovnik, head of the digital innovation hub Healthwise, introduced us to the services for start-ups, showcasing innovative products like a wireless eco-tool for patient monitoring. She also invited us to their annual digital health conference next February.
Friday morning we visited the Community Health Centre Ljubljana in Metelkova Road. Saša Šajn Lekše explained the different offers as to preventive healthcare measures. After that, we toured the center’s modern laboratory. With a visit to an outstandingly great simulation centre, headed by Uroš Zafošnik, we ended our official programme.
Our trip has definitely provided valuable insights into the Italian and Slovenian healthcare systems and inspired us to implement some of the great ideas presented to us back home in Austria.
(by David Richter, Julia Berger)
