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Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ No11 No11 No11 No11 Ü Ü Ü Ü Ü
October 2011
THE AMIC NEWSLETTER
I- Professor Dr. Haroutioun Armenian’s impressive presentation at the 3rd International Medical Congress of Armenia
On July 7, 2011, on the opening day of the 3rd International Medical Congress of Armenia, following the welcoming speeches, Dr. Haroutioun Armenian’s lecture inaugurated the first Plenary Session.
Titled "A Paradigm Shift in Medicine and Health Services in Armenia and the Diaspora," the lecture was for this writer and for many in the audience, a masterpiece by its combination of profound knowledge and analysis, its comparative perspectives, and in conclusion its solutions for a better, more effective, health care system in Armenia.
A true educator, with a long experience of teaching, research and observation in various countries with different healthcare systems, Dr. Armenian reflected more on health care system’s effectiveness and quality, than on cures or therapy per se.
Based on 56 slides, the lecture developed the four following topics:
1-Was there a change of paradigm in health services in Armenia over the past 20 years? 2-Was there a change of paradigm in diasporan medicine over the past 40 years? 3- Options for evolving paradigms in medicine and public health. 4- Towards the development of a system responsive to need.
We will only give a very brief summary of the presentation.
1-A paradigm is a thought pattern or a model in Science/Medicine.
In 1991, right after Armenia’s independence a workshop on Armenia’s Health Care took place at Johns Hopkins University (where Dr. Armenian was the Director of the MPH Program) with five other colleagues from Armenia and the Diaspora. The workshop concluded that: - A system change was needed, as well as re-education and retraining of health care personnel. – Development of modern physical facilities and of a management information system.
In 2005, 14 years later health services were specialist driven, highly inefficient, primary care services were underutilized and facilities antiquated...
In 2011, one observes the development of oligarchs in medicine. A paradigm shift is observed to a model where financial considerations are dominant rather than effectiveness and efficiency. There is competitiveness in dentistry and pharmacy, but not in medical services, education and primary care.
2-In the Diaspora, medicine is disparate and varied, according to the countries’ paradigms. The first Armenian Medical Congress (Beirut, 1974), is a starting point for a diasporan medicine.
1988’s earthquake is a turning point for diasporan medicine, as well as the creation of the Armenian Medical International Committee (AMIC), however diasporan medicine acted primarily in response to the humanitarian needs...
What is needed in 2011?
- More than buildings, change is needed in philosophy and values in Armenia and the Diaspora.
- New machines and facilities is not progress without systems.
- Transparency, accountability and quality assurance systems.
- Moving ahead with a common research agenda across Armenia and the Diaspora.
- Institution building
- Professional non-profit organizations with membership from both the Diaspora and Armenia
- Initial funds generated through professional membership fees
- A strong presence in the virtual world with people working in multiple geographic locations.
President
Sarkissian and a delegation from the attendees of the 3rd
International Medical Congress of Armenia
President
Sarkissian shaking hands with Dr. H. Armenian
II- A reflection on the 3rd International Congress of Armenia: A nurse’s perspective
The Armenian American Nurses Association (AANA) is an organization based in Los Angeles, California, with close ties to other professional Armenian medical organizations under AMIC’s umbrella. Since 2003, along with AMIC’s bi-annual international congress, whether in Yerevan, San Francisco or New York, AANA has organized and presented a Nursing Workshop day, preceding AMIC’s 3-day main conferences.
During the 3rd International Medical Congress held in Armenia, on June 30th, 2011, over 200 nurses attended the Nursing Workshop, the majority of them from Armenia and the U.S. They had a well-planned, 10-hour long Nursing Workshop at the Yerevan State Medical University. The workshop involved months of orchestration and collaboration between Kohar Kesian, the President of AANA (2009-2011) and her counterpart, Geghanoush Stepanyan, the President of the Armenian Nurses Association in Armenia.
The collaboration between AMIC, headed by Dr. Avedis Boghossian, the organizing committee of 3rd the International Medical Congress of Armenia, headed by Dr. Derenik Doumanyan and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia greatly contributed to the planning, organizing and running of this Conference. Their support was instumental to the success of the Nursing Workshop.
The topics presented during this workshop were selected based on the current needs of the nurses both in Armenia and the Diaspora. Opening remarks were made by Geghanoush Stepanyan and Kohar Kesian, RN, MSN, followed by the presentations. Loucine Hukabay-Daderian, RN, PhD from Los Angeles presented "The Future of Nursing Education: Carnegie Recommendations". Hasmik Ghazinyan from Yerevan about "Viral hepatitis: Prevention and Treatment".
Other speakers from Los Angeles and their respective topics were: Zarmine Naccashian RN, PhD, "Diabetes management with Insulin"; Kohar Kesian RN, MSN "Hospice and Nursing Care"; Rosine Der Tavitian RN, MSN, MPH about newborn’s "Back to Sleep" positioning policy; Salpy Akaragian, RN, MN "Professional Nursing Care Indicators"; and Karine Khachatryan "PICC Line Care & Beyond" . Speakers from Armenia and their topics were: Anahit Sargsyan from Erebouni Hospital,"Hospital Infection Prevention" and Anahit Asatryan from Yerevan "The Nurse as a Clinical Rehabilitation Team Member". There was also a presentation from the Representative of Johnson & Johnson in Armenia. Networking and lunch took place at the University’s cafeteria terrace with lunch sponsored by AANA.
On several occasions, the Board members of both the Armenian Nurses Association of Armenia and the Armenian Nurses Association of Karabagh met with the seven visiting members of AANA who participated in the Congress. The meetings revealed an assessment on current nursing needs, exchanging ideas and coming up with plans for the betterment of healthcare for Armenians. The concerns were mutual, all for improving nursing education and enhancing the scope of practice in the motherland.
It was encouraging to notice that evidence-based practice is being utilized in some hospitals of Armenia. It was also noted that there is a strong desire to continue higher level of education in nursing. However, the need for structured advancement, to elevate the confidence of the nurses in Armenia by continuous empowerment should be areas of carefully planned projects.
There is an ongoing effort to improve communication among the nurses in Armenia, Karabagh and the AANA nurses in Los Angeles; the need to share knowledge accrued, organize future workshops, and participate in global medical conferences, with the focus to improve evaluating the healthcare needs of Armenians and in the final analysis improve the general health of Armenians.
Kohar Kesian & Rosine Der Tavitian, Past and Current Presidents of the AANA
III- The International Plastic Surgeons’ Association Congress in Armenia
Info-Flash received the information below from Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan
Nearly a month before the 3rd International Medical Congress of Armenia, another Congress was held in Yerevan, from June 28, to June 30, 2011. It was organized by the Armenian Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, (AAPRAS) co-organized by the Yerevan State Medical University and held under the auspices of IPRAS (the International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery), ESPRAS (the European Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) and ISAPS (the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery).
As one can gather from Info-Flash successive issues, Yerevan is hosting more and more International Medical gatherings in different specialties, which is an interesting sign of the collaboration of local medical associations with their international partners.
"The 3rd International AAPRAS Congress on ‘Unfavorable Results and Complications in Plastic Surgery’ was successfully launched on the 28th of June 2011. It ended on the 30th of June2011, in Yerevan, Armenia, attended by some of the most renowned plastic surgeons in the world.
The working sessions of the congress, opened on June 28 with the welcoming speeches the Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia Mr. H. Kushkyan, of the Rector of Yerevan State Medical University, Mr. Dumanian D., and of the IPRAS President Prof. Marita Eisenmann-Klein (Germany) and of the ESPRAS President, Prof. Yiacoumettis Andreas (Greece). After the opening ceremony, a press conference was held, covered by numerous journalists; important data like how to identify dangerous skin tumours and techniques of breast reconstruction and augmentation with implants or the patient’s own fat were presented. The outstanding quality of plastic surgery in Armenia was underlined. Furthermore, an introduction to the aims and scopes of IPRAS was made, stating that the International Confederation intends to inform the public about plastic surgery, highlighting also the IPRAS humanitarian missions. During the last day of the congress, an innovative event was launched: the Armenian Public Day of Plastic Surgery. The Public Day is an IPRAS initiative, established with the purpose of inaugurating a dialogue forum with the public. For almost two hours, top plastic surgeons informed and warned on important issues such as breast reconstruction with fat or implants-a subject of special interest to women who lost their breasts to cancer or who suffer from breast asymmetries or deformities, skin tumours, safety of the liposuction procedure, etc. After their presentations, the plastic surgeons answered to questions from the public and a vivid dialogue took place."
IV- The program for diabetic children of Armenia
The information below was sent by the Foundation Yeraz
(Dream). It is important. Please read carefully and visit the site www.yerazfund.am
“YERAZ” Charitable Fund is the only body in Armenia that implements "medical and psychological care and provides financial means for medical care to diabetic children and/or children needing health care from needy families" program. The program of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia provides free medical care for up to 7-years old children, and has programs providing free insulin for diabetic children. Additionally these children need also syringes and glucometers and strips to measure the level of glucose in the blood up to 3 to 6 times during the day. Glucometers and strips are rather expensive and unreachable for vulnerable groups (needy families). Our Fund supports the children from insecure families with diabetes and endocrine system disturbances up to 18 years old. They get medical care in № 1 and "Muratsan" Clinical Complexes of the Yerevan State Medical University after "Mkhitar Heratsi". The foundation provides free of charge glucometers, strips (not enough for primary and unstable patients), syringes, medicines and psychological assistance to only 238 children with diabetes (RA, Nagorno-Karabakh and Javakhq) and pays for their required laboratory analysis, whereas the number of them is much more and keeps increasing. Thus, additional financial means are required for the increasing number of registered children in order to provide them with adequate number of test-strips.
We would be grateful for any aid you could send for our diabetic children.
Sincerely,
Karine Mkhitaryan Director Yeraz Charitable Fund
V-What is AMIC?
The Armenian Medical International Committee (AMIC) was created 21 years ago. It is an umbrella organization that unites and promotes Armenian medical associations throughout the Diaspora, creating thus a large network through which information and data are exchanged. AMIC organizes Armenian Medical Congresses. So far ten have been held in different cities of the Diaspora, the latest being the one held in New York from July 1 to July 4, 2009. In 2007, the "Second International Medical Congress of Armenia" organized by Armenia, was held in Yerevan (June 28 to June 30). The third was held from July 7 to July 9, 2011. Since 1998 AMIC has published an online newsletter which is sent free of charge to all Armenian Health Care Professionals. If you are a health care professional and are interested in receiving Info-Flash, please send us your email address (aida@amic.ca, or amic@amic.ca). To all those who already receive the Info, please do not forget to send us your new e-mail address when you change it. Info-Flash is posted on GROONG, but with a different format, and often with less data and graphics, due to GROONG’s rules. To receive it individually in full size and content, please contact AMIC’s office (aida@amic.ca, amic@amic.ca). For further information, visit our website: www.amic.ca Useful information to remember: You can send medical equipment/medicine, free of charge from wherever you are located, through the services of the United Armenian Fund: Contact: U.A.F. President Mr. Harout Sassounian (sassoun@pacbell.net)
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