31. Jan 2004 18:06 16. Nov 2010 12:10

The centre model means better patient care

The most important change in Trondheims new university hospital is that - unlike other hospitals in Norway - it is organized as seven clinical centres, each in its own building.

31. Jan 2004 18:06 13. Apr 2004 17:49

This choice involves major organizational changes, making this a development project as well as an expansion project. Improved resource utilization and shorter hospital stays are the aims of the centre model.

In creating a new university hosptal we have had a historic opportunity, and we have resolved to make the most of it. We wanted to shape a hospital where patient-focused care is a hallmark of the entire organization.

The clinical centres are:
Neuro Centre, Women and Children`s Centre, Emergency & Cardiothoracic Centre, Gastro Centre, Mobility Centre, Knowledge Centre and, if financed, Psychiatric Centre.

In addition there are interdisciplinary centres:
Laboratory Centre, Hospital administration and Supplies Centre. The Patient Hotel provides an important supplement to traditional beds.

	The hospital - 2013

DECENTRALIZATION
Service functions such as anaesthesia, X-ray and image diagnosis have been decentralized in the new hospital, which provoked controversy among medical professionals.

In our view, both patients and staff benefit from this organizational form. Although it costs more to provide these services in each centre, the organization of the hospital as a whole will be more effective.

To avoid fragmentation of the various disciplines, central units must be established to support disciplinary management, research and teaching.

Some people have expressed scepticism about the distances between the centres - but if the entire area were under one roof, the distances would not be greater than those at Norway`s National Hospital in Oslo.