Slovenian Interventional Radiology Departments

Absztrakt:

Slovenia has a solid, almost completely public health system with one major insurance company. Slovenian Radiology celebrates 90 years of existence this year; Interventional Radiology (IR) is performed for longer than 40 years. No private IR facility exists at the moment. IR service is available in both University centres 24 hours/7 days and in lesser extent in 6 of the 10 general hospitals. The training is included in the radiology residency with 6 months of obligatory IR training. IR is performed by 21 out of 175 Slovenian radiologists that perform IR procedures more than 3 days/week, and some radiologists perform it occasionally. The patient’s selection is made by interventional radiologists and various clinicians. Most of the patients are hospitalized on different wards. Since fall 2012 Clinical Radiology Institute of University Medical Centre (UMC) in Ljubljana provides single day hospitalization and more than 100 patients have been treated this way ever since. Also, first hybrid angio-suite in Slovenia is being installed in the same Institution. Current negative financial trends are influencing IR and might affect its development by reducing educa tional, technical and human resources. There is a turf battle for IR since it is one of the most dynamic, perspective and economically important branches of Radiology. Only continuous education, solid technical equipment and adequate human resources will lead to good results, that are essential for quality patient ma nagement and IR affirmation of IR in medical and general community.