Fields of studies with a practical profile at higher education schools in Gdańsk and Słupsk

The Medical University of Gdańsk (GUMed) implements a project „New infrastructure and equipment of workshops for the needs of fields of studies with a practical profile at the Medical University of Gdańsk and the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk”. It is executed in 2014-2019 together with the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk (APS) within the Regional Operational Programme for the Pomorskie Voivodeship for the years 2014-2020.

Photo. GUM-ed

Total value of the project amounts to PLN 17.8 million, PLN 15.1 million of which is the value of financing from resources of the regional programme of the Pomorskie Voivodeship.

The main objective of the project includes adaptation of the didactic offer of the Medical University of Gdańsk and the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk to current needs of the labour market through improvement of quality of educating students of these higher education schools and activation of a new dedicated field of studies within the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sector. Thanks to its implementation, it will be possible to educate students of medical fields of studies better – future doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists and paramedics. Better educated specialists within the scope of medicine will be more effective in care over patients, which in turn will be reflected in better health condition of society.

Implementation of the project will enable an increase in competences of students from a medical field of study and medical rescue field of study of the GUMed through construction and retrofitting of infrastructure of workshops including practical skills – the Medical Simulation Centre and a building of the Integrated Health Care and Tele-medicine.

Photo. GUM-ed

Within the project, the following activities have been envisaged:

1. Construction of the building and purchase of furniture equipment for the Medical Simulation Centre of the Medical University of Gdańsk

Since the 2017/2018 academic year, students from the Medical University of Gdańsk have been perfecting their practical skills in a super-modern centre – the Medical Simulation Centre (CSM). Unique equipment including high-fidelity simulators was the basis for introduction of a new form of teaching – interdisciplinary didactic classes with a possibility of observing consequences of clinical decisions made and a multi-threaded discussion. Here, students acquire valuable skills related to medical history, physical examination or communication with a patient and his/her family, thanks to which they will be prepared better for clinical classes and real contact with a patient.

Creation of the Medical Simulation Centre meets requirements of contemporary didactics within the scope of education in the following fields of studies: medical, nursing and obstetrics, teaching oriented towards achievement of pre-set effects of education and combination of exercises including practical skills with soft competences such as: ability to make decisions, work in a group or communication with a patient.

Thanks to execution of this investment, it will be possible to conduct classes based on technologically advanced didactic equipment e.g. the so-called patient simulators by means of which students can train their clinical skills. Improvement of the education quality within the scope of pre-clinical teaching of students from medical fields of studies is of considerable importance to patients since it will provide them with access to specialists better prepared for exercising the professions of a doctor, nurse or paramedic. Moreover, better preparation of medical staff of the region will contribute to improvement of the health condition of society and will enhance the quality and effectiveness of health services provided. It is also significant for functioning of hospitals and other health care entities which will obtain access to more qualified medical staff.

The innovative didactic project has been planned based on a building investment completed by the GUMed with the use of own resources. The CSM dedicated object was co-financed within the Regional Operational Programme for the Pomorskie Voivodeship (ROP PV) 2014-2020, whereas resources for its retrofitting and implementation of the Higher Education School Development Programme, aimed at optimal use of created infrastructure, come from the Ministry of Health – Knowledge Education Development Operational Programme for 2014-2020.

2. Purchase of equipment for the medical rescue field of studies within the scope of simulation of care over a patient

Purchase of modern didactic equipment was planned within this Measure (e.g. simulation phantoms as well as apparatus and medical equipment for simulation classes), thanks to which students from the medical rescue field of study can acquire new skills in simulated conditions. Purchase of specialist didactic equipment was planned within the Measure, inter alia, manikins which simulate patients.

3. Construction of a new building for the needs of Workshops of the Integrated Health Care and Tele-medicine

Construction of a new building for the needs of Workshops of the Integrated Health Care and Tele-medicine was planned within the Measure.

Currently, Tele-medicine is the most dynamically developing form of providing health care services in a visible manner changing the face of contemporary medicine. Combining modern information and telecommunication attainments, it creates possibilities, unknown earlier, in relations between patients and staff members of the health care system. Electronic registration systems, consultations and online teaching, tele-procedures and tele-operations are some of the possibilities facilitating and enhancing activities in the area of health care.

Long-distance Medicine, description of the workshops:

• tele-medical workshop: teaching how to use tele-medical solutions within the scope of tele-consultations, tele-care and tele-monitoring, e.g. connected with long-distance monitoring of health beat, level of selected bodily functions etc.
• ICT workshop: teaching how to use data collected in IT systems of health care centres and how to analyse it and how to make, based on results of these analyses, decisions supporting patients
• team work workshop: teaching and building a capability for team work among students in environments of medical professionals and hospital complexes
• simulation workshop: preparation of students for a new type of services – education of patients within the scopes in which a patient must acquire a skill for better „self-service” and care over own health in diverse medical areas

Appreciating the role of such a comprehensive solution within the scope of improvement of health state, results of treatment and living quality of patients as well as in order to meet the needs and challenges of the contemporary world, the Medical University of Gdańsk extends its infrastructure by adding modern scientific and didactic back-up facilities. In the building of the Integrated Health Care and Tele-medicine, located in Dębowa Street, students, staff members of medical service and patients will be able to acquire new skills within the scope of analysing data collected in IT systems of health care centres, team work in a hospital environment as well as tele-care and tele-consultations. The building will include seats of the following workshops: tele-medical, ICT, team work and simulation workshops. The workshops, thanks to the system of folding walls, can be combined into one room, whereas the seminar room can be divided into two independent rooms.

Improvement of the didactic back-up facilities for the needs of educating students in integrated care and tele-medicine is particularly significant from the perspective of care over the elderly. In a longer time perspective, it will contribute to extension of professional activity of this age group and an increase in employability of these people, which is extremely significant for the labour market in the face of demographic changes and increasingly large problems with recruitment among Pomeranian enterprises.

4. Demonstrative laboratories in units of the Pharmaceutical Faculty for the needs of educating staff for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry

The Medical University of Gdańsk has created a new field of studies the curriculum of which is a response to demand of the regional pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. Thanks to the support obtained within the project, students from the Pharmaceutical Faculty of the GUMed will also be covered by the support, where considerable improvement of the didactic back-up facilities will take place. Involvement of representatives of employers in the didactic process will be a significant element of the educational process for the needs of the new field of studies, who will conduct workshop classes. Specialist didactic equipment was purchased within the Measure, whose task is to simulate laboratory conditions for the needs of educating pharmacists.

A part of the activities will be completed on the part of the project partner – the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk where the support for medical rescue students and activation of the tele-medical workshop were planned as well.