Pia
Hughes, ECCP, M.Sc.
Introduction:
Since the very beginning of heart surgery in the 1950s, industry has had an
important role in the development and improvement of equipment used in this
area. The success in treatment of heart patients is very much dependent on the
equipment used. It must be of the best possible quality and the operating staff
must be well educated. Since the education of perfusionists is not only a
practical issue but very much a theoretical issue as well, the perfusionists
must continuously update their knowledge in all different aspects.
In this context industry plays an important role in delivering high quality information to the hospitals, at international meetings and even at the schools of perfusion. How is industry of importance to perfusion education today in Scandinavia, and can we improve the current situation?
Schools
of perfusion:
The
medical staff provides most of the lectures at the schools, however product
specialists from different companies are
also popular. Most importantly the industry is invited to talk about general
product characteristics.
Classes
given from health service employees and the industry provide the students with a
wide view.
Industry
in the clinical environment:
Continuous maintenance of the education level of the perfusionists is an
important issue in order to guarantee best possible patient treatment. The
industry can contribute to this by providing a continuous flow of high quality
information about new products, investigation of misfaults in products and
training in the use of new products. A continuous dialogue between industry and
users of their products gives the best opportunity for a still ongoing
optimising of standards.
Perfusionists
and industry outside hospitals:
The industry has an important role in arranging workshops, where perfusionists
can meet and try out new possibilities and discuss new features in the perfusion
technique area. Perfusionists, as professionals, should be involved in the
industries innovative developments. At international meetings, perfusionists
expect to meet high quality demonstrations of products by well-qualified
employees from the companies.
Conclusion:
Industry and perfusionists have a number of common interests such as patient
care by safety and homogeneity of products, continuous development, and mutual
loyalty. Furthermore, the priority
of education is low in public healthcare; hence private industry support is
essential.
In
the future:
Idealistically, industrial support should be given more selectively for
educational and training purposes and
not so often for purposes that could be mistaken as secret commissions,
such as expensive dinners and excursions to exotic destinations. However, in
this matter there is a strong cultural element, which will be difficult to
change.
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