As part of a project funded by the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Bulgarian and American doctors are collaborating in the exchange of experience in the field of pediatric care, announced the executive director of the foundation, Desislava Talyokova, to reporters.
This year, 11 Bulgarian specialists in pediatric medicine working in Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas visited the Weill Cornell Medicine university hospital in New York. There, the Bulgarian doctors had the opportunity to get acquainted closely with the work of their American colleagues, focused on medical education and practices in pediatric care.
Currently, several highly qualified American experts have arrived in Bulgaria. Among them are Dr. Susan Bostwick, professor of clinical pediatrics and master of business administration, also deputy dean for institutional partnerships; Dr. Snejana Nena Osorio, professor of clinical pediatrics and vice-chair of the Council on Quality and Patient Safety; Dr. Jennifer Salant, a doctor specializing in pediatric palliative medicine and pediatric emergency care, and director of the pediatric emergency care team; Dr. Duncan Howe, associate professor of clinical pediatrics, and Blakely Rice, master of health management and manager of child development and creative art therapy.
This morning, the American specialists participated in the report of the medics from the Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Childhood Diseases „Prof. Ivan Mitev“. After that, they met with representatives of the Public Council, discussing the future children's hospital in the capital. A meeting with medical specialists in Burgas is also forthcoming, where in-depth dialogue and exchange of ideas are expected.
Professor Ivan Litvinenko, a neurologist at the hospital and chairman of the Public Council, emphasized that it is extremely important for young doctors to be convinced of the need for their professional intervention to ensure high-quality care for children. He pointed out the need to create a unified center for medical care for children, as the existing fragmentation of units in different hospitals leads to a loss of valuable time and opportunities in the treatment process. "Our dream is to gather in one national hospital, where the most complex cases can be admitted and in one place children can receive comprehensive and necessary care," shared Prof. Litvinenko. "The child is not alone in their illness, but pediatricians and their entire family are with them and this must be known," he added.
In response to a question regarding the quality of communication between a doctor, a parent and a sick child, Prof. Litvinenko noted that time is a deficit. He emphasized that in Bulgaria, examinations are scheduled every 20 minutes, although their actual duration is often longer, while in America, examinations are scheduled every 40-50 minutes, which allows for more in-depth communication with parents. According to him, in many cases in America, parents are required to be present during visits and decision-making during the hospital stay. The professor stressed the importance of preparing parents when communicating serious diagnoses, serious prognoses or in cases of inevitable death, adding that parents should be supported so that they do not feel lonely and helpless.
Associate Professor Boryana Avramova, head of the Clinic of Pediatric Clinical Hematology and Oncology at the University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment „Tsaritsa Yoanna – ISUL“, also emphasized the need to exchange good practices in communication with parents and child patients.
Dr. Jennifer Salant, a doctor specializing in pediatric palliative medicine and pediatric emergency care, and director of the pediatric emergency care team at Weill Cornell Medicine Hospital, explained that palliative care for children is multidisciplinary and is provided not only at the end of life, but also in all cases of serious illnesses that require long-term care. She emphasized the extreme importance of this aspect of care, including the participation of doctors, nurses, social workers and the provision of spiritual support. The goal is to ensure the highest possible quality of care, with the family placed at the center of attention. This includes a detailed understanding of the family in order to provide appropriate care at all stages of treatment, including at the end of life.
Dr. Salant pointed out that in America, payment for palliative care is covered by public or private health insurance funds, and in cases where care and services need to be provided in the child's home, the costs are covered by the state budget.