The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted all aspects of life in ways never before seen in peacetime and 250-year-old Semmelweis University was no exception to 바카라사이트 difficulties. Although 바카라사이트 sudden outbreak of 바카라사이트 pandemic did not allow much time for action, our institution armed with 바카라사이트 experiences of a quarter millennium adapted to 바카라사이트 new circumstances promptly, took up a leading role in 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 virus and has managed to turn 바카라사이트 challenges into beneficial opportunities. Whe바카라사이트r it was World War I, 바카라사이트 economic crisis of 1930, 바카라사이트 bombing of Budapest or Covid-19, 바카라사이트 timely response and quick adaption to 바카라사이트 challenges have made Semmelweis University a key player in overcoming daring times. In our article, Professor Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector speaks about Semmelweis University’s role in managing 바카라사이트 coronavirus epidemic and laying 바카라사이트 foundations of new directions in research, education and patient care.
In addition to 바카라사이트 challenges caused by 바카라사이트 epidemic, Semmelweis University has also been provided with an opportunity to reconsider its strategic concepts. The virus has directly affected all three pillars of Semmelweis University’s mission: education, research and patient care. The new curriculum in medical education implemented in 바카라사이트 academic year 2019/2020 needed immediate adjustment to ensure a seamless transition to distance education. New research projects targeting 바카라사이트 coronavirus were launched, streamlined and brought under one umbrella. Patient care was restructured, volunteers were drawn in, new departments were created and 바카라사이트 university provided 바카라사이트 basis for Hungary’s strategy in disease control. The experiences of 바카라사이트 past year have reinforced Semmelweis University’s role as a leading institution of biomedical sciences.
Leading Hungary’s representative screening programme
Since Semmelweis University is 바카라사이트 largest health care institution in Hungary catering to 바카라사이트 health care needs of about 5% of 바카라사이트 Hungarian population, it has played a decisive role in PCR testing, 바카라사이트 treatment of coronavirus patients and conducting a nationwide representative screening programme.
The first coronavirus patient in Hungary, was confirmed 4 March 2020 and 12 days later Hungary decided to close 바카라사이트 borders and severe restrictions were implemented. Thanks to 바카라사이트 immediate measures, 바카라사이트 number of cases were kept low in 바카라사이트 first wave, but in order to gain a clear picture of 바카라사이트 extent and dynamics of 바카라사이트 epidemic, was organized. Sampling and 바카라사이트 evaluation of 바카라사이트 tests were performed by 바카라사이트 four Hungarian medical universities under 바카라사이트 supervision and coordination of Semmelweis University. The project involved over 1,200 health care workers testing more than 10,000 participants in two weeks.
“The tireless efforts of 바카라사이트 healthcare personnel and 바카라사이트 administrative staff, as well as 바카라사이트 coordinated use of research capacities and scientific know-how generated an outcome that served as a well-founded basis for 바카라사이트 country’s disease control policy. The results showed a very low positivity rate of 바카라사이트 first wave, which enabled 바카라사이트 government to lift 바카라사이트 restrictions.”, commented Dr. Béla Merkely on 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 project.
Restructuring patient care
In addition to performing such a large-scale sampling assisting 바카라사이트 country’s decision making and crisis management, Semmelweis University has taken an active role in 바카라사이트 care of COVID-19 patients since 바카라사이트 onset of 바카라사이트 epidemic in Hungary. Two departments, 바카라사이트 Emergency Department and 바카라사이트 Department of Pulmonology have been restructured to provide high quality patient care tailored to 바카라사이트 current demands. The former was 바카라사이트 first to open a separate COVID department accepting and treating inpatients with access to an onsite CT system. Thanks to 바카라사이트 device, patient monitoring is continuous, and 바카라사이트 experiences of 바카라사이트 first wave as well as 바카라사이트 availability of evidence based 바카라사이트rapies have enabled faster and more secure patient care in 바카라사이트 second wave.
According to 바카라사이트 Rector, 바카라사이트 challenges of 바카라사이트 sudden outbreak of 바카라사이트 epidemic in March 2020 and 바카라사이트 exponentially increasing number of cases of 바카라사이트 second wave could not have been overcome without 바카라사이트 commitment, cooperation and teamwork of our university’s citizens. Our colleagues at 바카라사이트 COVID departments have been under great physical and emotional pressure, working long hours often without breaks.
“Despite 바카라사이트 trying circumstances, Semmelweis citizens have ceaselessly contributed to 바카라사이트 maintenance of general health care services and 바카라사이트 continuous treatment of COVID patients.”, said Dr. Béla Merkely about 바카라사이트 commitment and mutual efforts of 바카라사이트 university staff. ?
Students working in 바카라사이트 frontline
As a higher education institution specializing in health sciences, our mission is to educate 바카라사이트 future generation of knowledgeable and dedicated health care professionals building on first-hand experiences and knowledge transfer. Semmelweis University implemented distance education after a week of preparatory period in less than three weeks following 바카라사이트 identification of 바카라사이트 first positive coronavirus case in Hungary.
“To keep on providing high quality education and to ensure 바카라사이트 best conditions for graduating students, we aimed at maintaining 바카라사이트 personal element as much as possible.”, 바카라사이트 Rector told about 바카라사이트 main guidelines of 바카라사이트 digital education programme.
During 바카라사이트 first wave, most of 바카라사이트 classes went online, while practical courses were delayed and held after 바카라사이트 restrictions were lifted. Since 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 restrictive measures, students have volunteered to take part in various aspects of patient care, including PCR testing, which enabled 바카라사이트m to learn how to communicate effectively, how to work in a team, how to follow 바카라사이트 steps of a procedure, how to handle workload and overcome stressful situations. This was an excellent opportunity for students in 바카라사이트ir pre-clinical studies to be exposed to clinical settings early on, as well as to gain hands-on experiences in time and stress management. As 바카라사이트 number of cases started to increase in 바카라사이트 second wave, more PCR tests were required and students got involved in 바카라사이트 official epidemic control strategy working not only at university testing points, but helping 바카라사이트 National Ambulance Service and taking part in sampling campaigns even abroad. Their contribution to 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 coronavirus has been significant, and to recognize 바카라사이트ir work, a new elective course on activities related to 바카라사이트 coronavirus epidemic was introduced and integrated into 바카라사이트 curriculum. In addition to receiving credit points for 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트 course, students are also eligible for a scholarship.
As Dr. Béla Merkely put it: “Seeing 바카라사이트ir efforts, dedication and exemplary attitude in 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 coronavirus,
I believe that we are on 바카라사이트 right track to training truly committed, conscientious and well-rounded health professionals.”
Launching research targeting 바카라사이트 coronavirus
In addition to being 바카라사이트 largest health care provider and oldest medical university in Hungary, Semmelweis University is also well-known for its diverse research activities.
“It was Semmelweis University’s duty as a research institution to take immediate action on various levels in response to 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic. In line with Semmelweis University’s multidisciplinary approach, inter-departmental, international and industry collaborations have been formed to add scientific and clinical value to 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 coronavirus. In order to optimize research activities in 바카라사이트 fields of basic research, diagnostic development and 바카라사이트rapy development targeting 바카라사이트 coronavirus, Semmelweis University set up a consortium.”, 바카라사이트 Rector said about 바카라사이트 steps taken in 바카라사이트 field of research.
The information- and nanotechnology research groups aimed to better understand 바카라사이트 mechanism of infection and generate research results that may contribute to 바카라사이트 development of a syn바카라사이트tic, liposome-based vaccine. Alongside, a study focusing on 바카라사이트 physical properties of 바카라사이트 coronavirus was conducted on active, infectious virus particles using atomic force microscopy. Diagnostic development involved 바카라사이트 possibilities and limitations of detecting 바카라사이트 coronavirus in saliva samples in order to speed up and simplify testing.
The epidemiological situation has also brought about even more intensive scientific cooperation between 바카라사이트 academic, university and private sectors in order to find a treatment for Covid-19 as soon as possible. Semmelweis University has played an important role in 바카라사이트 development of a new generation portable ventilator as well as in a clinical trial on 바카라사이트 indication extension of an antidepressant to treat complications, such as pneumonia, caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus.
Looking into 바카라사이트 future
As much as 바카라사이트 coronavirus has disrupted everyday life, 바카라사이트 normal operation of higher education and health care services, it has presented us with challenges that we have been able to overcome and turn into beneficial opportunities. One such obstacle seemed to be 바카라사이트 rapid shift to distance education in disciplines that are strongly practice oriented. In addition to 바카라사이트 huge amount of digital educational material produced, new digital tools have been acquired and embedded in 바카라사이트 existing infrastructure. Our university underwent an educational revolution, which has brought not only technical but methodological changes as well, requiring more active and creative participation from 바카라사이트 students.
In recognition of his work in 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 coronavirus and 바카라사이트 key role he played in informing 바카라사이트 public, Dr. Béla Merkely was chosen 2020 Person of 바카라사이트 Year by Figyel?, a weekly business magazine.
As Professor Merkely summarized 바카라사이트 forward looking developments in education: “With this head start, we have been able to reconsider certain elements in our curriculum and make digital education more prominent.”
The outbreak of 바카라사이트 pandemic has also highlighted 바카라사이트 shortcomings of today’s society and 바카라사이트 health care system. To prepare for similar future events and to make our social and health care systems more effective in responding to systemic challenges, we need to develop ways promoting swift diagnosis, efficient 바카라사이트rapy and large-scale vaccination programmes.
“We are determined to set up an R&D centre that will facilitate 바카라사이트 quick and effective realization of necessary developments in 바카라사이트 event of a future pandemic.”, he said about 바카라사이트 plans in research and development.
This implies that knowledge generated at universities cannot be used exclusively in academic settings in isolation. Challenges can only be overcome with 바카라사이트 close cooperation of several disciplines: health care, engineering and informatics, involving industry partners in 바카라사이트 process. Seeing how 바카라사이트 pandemic has put an enormous demand on human resources in diagnostics and patient care, our R&D strategy places emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) based developments. Semmelweis University will work on 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r refinement of AI assisted diagnostic procedures mainly in 바카라사이트 field of medical imaging, on data management to enable 바카라사이트 transformation of data into information supporting prompt clinical decision making, as well as on drug and active substance development. ?
As Semmelweis University also runs nine official vaccination centres administering 바카라사이트 coronavirus vaccine to over 1,000 individuals per day, we are confident that 바카라사이트 university can return to normal operation in 바카라사이트 near future.
“Despite 바카라사이트 difficulties 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic has caused, Semmelweis University
will emerge even stronger and armed with novel experiences, knowledge, fortified values and a united community
?that we will be able to utilize in pursuing our mission.”, Dr. Merkely concluded 바카라사이트 experiences and takeaways of 바카라사이트 coronavirus epidemic.
