service charter cardiology division - … medical staff ward dr. gerardina lardieri dr. lorena...

56
SERVICE CHARTER CARDIOLOGY DIVISION e-mail: [email protected] www.aots.sanita.fvg.it

Upload: vuongtruc

Post on 17-Feb-2019

213 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

SERVICE CHARTER

CARDIOLOGY DIVISION

e-mail: [email protected] www.aots.sanita.fvg.it

2

3

INTEGRATED CARDIOLOGY DIVISION Director: Prof. Gianfranco Sinagra

CARDIOLOGY DIVISION

Director: Prof. Gianfranco Sinagra Cattinara Hospital - Cardiology Complex – Via Valdoni 7

Tel: 040 399 4477 e-mail: [email protected]

NURSING COORDINATORS:

Ward: Daria Beltrame Tel: 040 399 4851; Fax: 040 399 4003

e-mail: [email protected]

Coronary Unit: Tiziana Canderlic Tel: 040 399 4646; Fax: 040 399 4491

e-mail: [email protected]

Hemodynamics and Invasive Cardiology Room: Cinzia d i Chiara Tel: 040 399 4865; Fax: 040 399 4878

e-mail: [email protected]

4

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS FAX OUTPATIENTS’ DEPARTMENT Ground Floor

040 – 399 4865 040 – 399 4878

8 a.m. – 3 p.m, Monday to Friday

WARD ADMINISTRATION Second Floor

040 – 399 4875 040 - 399 4003

8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Friday

WARD 040-399 4871 040 – 399 4003

CORONARY UNIT Third Floor

040 – 399 4877 040 – 399 4491

Always operational, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day

DIAGNOSTIC AND INVASIVE HEMODYNAMICS Third Floor

040 – 399 4875 040 – 399 4988

8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Friday

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY AND ELECTROSTIMULATION Third Floor

040 – 399 4828 040 – 399 4491

8.30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Friday

CARDIAC ULTRASOUND Ground Floor

040 – 399 4837

8.30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Saturday

Arrhythmia and Pacemaker Clinic Ground Floor

040 – 399 4828

040 – 399 4878

8.30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Friday

Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Clinic Ground Floor

040 – 399 4125 040 – 399 4878

8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Friday

CARDIOLOGY UNIT (Ospedale Maggiore)

040 – 399 2248 040 – 399 2298

8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Friday

5

TABLE OF CONTENTS Medical Staff Page 8

Our Mission Page 9

Our Motto Page 9

Presentation Page 10

What to bring to hospital Page 11

Location: how to find us Page 12

Visiting hours Page 13

Interviews with relatives Page 13

Coronary Unit Page 14

Diagnostic and Invasive Hemodynamics Page 16

Electrophysiology and Electrostimulation Page 18

Cardiology Ward Page 19

Cardiac Ultrasound Page 22

Electrocardiography Page 23

High-resolution and Holter Electrocardiography Page 24

Ergometry and tilt tests Page 25

Divisional Outpatients’ Service Page 26

Pacemaker and Defibrillator Clinic Page 27

Clinics for Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure, Pulmonary Hypertension, Complex Angioplasties and Percutaneous Aortic Prostheses, Percutaneous Treatment of Congenital Defects

Page 28

Diagnostic and Invasive Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Clinic

Page 29

Cardiology Unit of Ospedale Maggiore and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Page 31

Computerization

Page 34

Admission to the Cardiology Division Page 35

6

Treatments and average waiting times Page 35

Pain control Page 36

Informed consent Page 36

Patients’ involvement in their treatment Page 37

How to distinguish staff by uniform colour Page 39

Religion Page 40

Information for patients Page 40

Cultural mediation Page 41

Visits Page 41

Patient safety Page 42

Mobile phones Page 43

Food Page 43

Recommended diet for cardiac patients

Page 44

Drugs Page 47

Cash and valuables Page 47

Rules of conduct Page 47

Certificate of admission Page 48

Complaints procedure Page 48

Discharge from hospital Page 48

Acute cases Page 50

How to request patients’ medical files Page 50

Continuity of care Page 51

Organisation, communication, training and quality control

Page 52

Research and scientific activities Page 54

7

The Cardiology unit seen from the Via Valdoni entrance. It can also be reached by following the signs through an internal link from Cattinara

Hospital.

8

MEDICAL STAFF Ward

Dr. Gerardina Lardieri Dr. Lorena Barbieri Dr. Francesca Brun Dr. Renata Korcova Dr. Laura Massa Dr. Marco Merlo Dr. Michele Moretti Dr. Alberto Pivetta

Diagnostic and Invasive Hemodynamics

Dr. Alessandro Salvi Dr. Andrea Perkan Dr. Serena Rakar Dr. Giancarlo Vitrella

Cardiology Intensive Care Unit

Dr. Marco Milo Dr. Francesco Lo Giudice Dr. Annamaria Sorrentino Dr. Irena Tavcar

Non-invasive Diagnostics and Cardiac Ultrasound

Dr. Elena Abate Dr. Bruno Pinamonti Dr. Gabriele Secoli

Electrophysiology, Arrhythmology and Electrostimula tion

Dr. Massimo Zecchin Dr. Fulvia Longaro Dr. Luca Salvatore Dr. Laura Vitali Serdoz

Cardiology Unit of Ospedale Maggiore and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Dr. Patrizia Maras

9

OUR MISSION TO MEET PATIENTS' NEEDS BY OFFERING INDIVIDUAL

ATTENTION AND AN EXCELLENT SERVICE

OUR MOTTO

1) THE PATIENT IS OUR PRIORITY

2) FOCUS ON TOTAL QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY

3) LISTENING TO, ACTIVELY INVOLVING AND

COMMUNICATING WITH THE PATIENT.

CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT OF OUR THINKING,

ORGANISATION, TECHNOLOGIES AND

TRAINING

4) SUSTAINABLE DECISIONS

5) “ME” AS PART OF THE “SYSTEM”

10

Dear Sir/Madam,

In welcoming you to our Division we would like to give you some

information that will help improve your stay in this hospital. Our staff

will be able to explain our services to you.

If one of your relatives is admitted to the Cardiology Division, this

brief presentation may be useful to you. Getting to know the hospital

will help you to deal with the situation better.

PRESENTATION

The Cardiology Division of the Trieste University Hospital Authority

was established in 1967, at Ospedale Maggiore, led by Prof. Fulvio

Camerini.

Since 1999, the division has been run by Prof. Gianfranco Sinagra.

In May 2003 it moved to the Cardiology Complex at Cattinara

Hospital, while Ospedale Maggiore maintained its Cardiology

Consulting, Non-Invasive Diagnostics and Cardiopathic

Rehabilitation Unit. It is home to Trieste University’s School of

Specialization of Diseases of the Cardiovascular System, and also

hosts many courses and traineeships related to undergraduate and

postgraduate degrees, and national and international professional

development programmes.

The working group is formed of doctors, coordinators, nurses, public

health workers, experts in cardiac pathophysiology, physiotherapists

and administration staff.

11

WHAT TO BRING TO HOSPITAL

Personal documents :

E.C. CITIZENS:

ID document

Health card issued by the local health authority

Tax code

Admission proposal form

FOREIGN NATIONALS NOT REGISTERED WITH THE

ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE AND NOT RESIDENT

IN ITALY:

passport and/or ID card, ISI form and/or permit of stay.

Clinical documentation :

Diagnostic tests, clinical records, documentation

concerning medical history and current treatment.

If the drugs you are taking are not available in our

division, at the time of admission you are asked to hand

your drugs to the doctors or nursing staff who will check

that they are intact and have not expired before

administering them as you are used to doing at home.

Personal effects :

Underwear, dressing gown and slippers, towels.

Everyday toiletries.

12

HOW TO FIND US

Cattinara Hospital

Cardiology Complex, Via P. Valdoni, 7 CAP 34149, Trieste.

Outpatients’ department and non-invasive diagnostic

testing (cardiac ultrasound, electrocardiography, ergometry,

Holter ECG and tilt tests), Ground Floor

Cardiology ward 2nd floor

Coronary and Cardiology Intensive Care Unit , 3rd floor

Diagnostic and Invasive Hemodynamics, 3rd floor

Electrophysiology and Electrostimulation , 3rd floor

Ospedale Maggiore

Via Pietà 2/2 (Distretto) 1st floor, 34134, Trieste

Cardiology Unit and Cardiac Rehabilitation

.

13

VISITING HOURS

WARD Monday-Saturday 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Sundays and holidays

12.30 - 2.30 p.m.

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

CORONARY UNIT Monday-Saturday 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Sundays and holidays

12 noon - 1 p.m.

6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

As this is an intensive care division, YOU ARE KINDLY ASKED TO

RESPECT THE ABOVE HOURS in order to provide your relatives

with the best possible care, and to allow our staff to carry out their

duties.

NTERVIEWS WITH RELATIVES

Please refer to the indications outside the room of the doctor

treating the patient.

WARD Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 3–4 p.m. (contact the ward administration office to request an appointment with a doctor)

CORONARY UNIT Monday to Friday: 12.30 – 1.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

On public holidays, and in the days beforehand, essential information can be obtained from the doctor on duty, who can be contacted through the nursing staff in each section.

14

CORONARY UNIT

Location: 3rd Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital.

Director: Dr. M. Milo

At least 1 doctor is always present, 24 hours a day , 7 days a

week.

The Coronary Unit has 6 intensive care beds, 2 isolation beds and 2

semi-intensive beds, divided into rooms with 1 or 2 beds each. It

accommodates critically-ill patients requiring intensive monitoring.

The unit admits around 1000 patients each year, suffering from:

Acute Myocardial Infarction – STEMI, 30%,

Acute Coronary Syndrome – NSTEMI, 40%,

Acute Heart Failure, 15%,

Life-threatening Arrhythmias, 10%,

Massive Pulmonary Embolism, 2%,

Aortic Dissection and Cardiac Tamponade, 5%.

The Coronary Unit offers advanced intensive care by means of

invasive hemodynamic monitoring, aortic counterpulsation,

ultrafiltration and hemodialysis, and invasive mechanical ventilation.

It is the landmark centre for the Isontino-Giuliana region (30% of

patients are not resident in the province).

Medical and nursing activities are organised on a 24-hour basis, and

all staff have basic life support defibrillation (BLSD) certification,

while the doctors have Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

certification. All clinical and organisational activities are governed by

15

periodically updated protocols, procedure and guidelines which can

easily be accessed.

The division provides consulting services for General Critical Care

(Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Relief), and the Emergency

Ward. Many of the clinical cases shared with these two departments

are governed by approved protocols (a hypothermia protocol for

patients surviving cardiac arrest, a protocol for the management of

chest pain and arrhythmic patients in the Emergency Ward).

The division has a long tradition of involvement in controlled clinical

studies and observational registers.

Our Coronary and Cardiology Intensive Care Unit has also been

accredited according to the operating standards of the European

Society of Cardiology (ESC).

16

DIAGNOSTIC AND INVASIVE HEMODYNAMICS

Location: 3rd Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital

Director: Dr. A. Salvi

The Diagnostic and Invasive Hemodynamics Section, mainly

dedicated to patients admitted to the Trieste Cardiology Division, is a

regional landmark for diagnostics and mini-invasive procedures

using catheters which are inserted beneath the skin and guided

along the artery to the heart.

Every year, more than 2,000 procedures are carried out, including

more than 600 percutaneous cardiology operations.

These procedures are conducted in the Hemodynamics Room and

consist of coronarographies, cardiac catheterization,

ventricolography, cardiac and artery biopsies, and most importantly

of balloon-assisted procedures for dilatation and the placement of

stents on the coronary and other arteries. This room is also where

aortic valve prostheses are fitted, as well as procedures for the

percutaneous closure of congenital defects (foramen ovale and heart

defects which cause shunting).

Both the radial and femoral approaches are used for these

procedures.

Two modern hemodynamics rooms have been set up for these

treatments, specifically designed for cardiovascular use. Both rooms

are fully digitalised and can also be used for emergency cardiac

procedures. The rooms are very close to the intensive care and sub-

intensive cardiology care areas, in order to allow the shortest

possible response time for the invasive treatment of at-risk patients.

A dedicated lift also guarantees rapid transport to one of the two

17

cardio operating theatres on the first floor, in an emergency.

Operations (for which a team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a

year, guaranteeing continuous support for emergencies) are carried

out in collaboration with expert technical and nursing staff. Patients

having to undergo diagnostic tests or invasive treatment in the

Invasive Cardiology Section are admitted to the Cardiology Division

on the day before, or even the same day as the procedure. There is

guaranteed priority access to the Cardiology Intensive Care Unit, if

this should be necessary.

18

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY AND ELECTROSTIMULATION SECTION

Location: 3rd floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital

Director: Dr. M. Zecchin

Each year, more than 450 pace makers are fitted or replaced,

together with 120 defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization

devices. The trend in electrophysiology procedures and operations,

and the placement of defibrillators and resynchronization devices is

rising all the time.

Pace makers, defibrillators and resynchronization devices are placed

under the skin (usually in the left subclavian area), during a minor

operation under local anaesthetic. They are linked to the chambers

of the heart by one or more permanent electrode catheters.

The duration of surgery can vary depending on the device and

anatomical variations.

At present, the Laboratory also deals with electrical cardioversions

and plastic surgery on the pouches of pacemakers and defibrillators.

Operations are also carried out to remove the devices, ranging from

the replacement of used batteries to the more complex removal of

chronically implanted electrode catheters.

Patients from other divisions are formally re-transferred and treated,

according to protocol, in their original division. If necessary, at the

surgeon’s discretion, the patient can be treated in the Cardiology

Division.

Extraction of electrodes: after the procedure the patient is usually

transferred to the Coronary Unit for at least 8-12 hours. There is

guaranteed priority access to the Cardiology Intensive Care Unit, if

this should be necessary.

19

CARDIOLOGY WARD

Location: 2nd floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital

Director: Dr. G. Lardieri

30 beds and 2 day hospital beds.

Each room has 2 beds and a full bathroom with shower. There is a

TV socket for patients’ own equipment.

Patients who are not confined to bed can use the lounge where they

can eat their meals, watch TV, read books and magazines from the

library, or meet their relatives and other visitors. There are coffee

machines, drink and snack machines, and a card-operated public

telephone.

On request, there is a paid barber/hairdressing service (ask a

member of staff).

About 3,000 patients are admitted to the ward every year. 60% are

resident in Trieste and the surrounding province, 30% are from the

Isontino-Giuliana region and further afield, while 10% are admitted

under the day-hospital system (residents and non-residents). 35% of

those admissions are planned, mainly for scheduled Invasive

Cardiology treatments (hemodynamics or electrophysiology), 43%

are urgent admissions from the Emergency Ward or patients referred

from cardiology outpatient facilities, other hospital departments and

other institutions, in an unstable condition or who cannot be

discharged. The remaining 23% are patients transferred from the

Coronary Unit for the post-acute phase, active mobilisation and

rehabilitation prior to discharge.

80% of the beds are fitted with advanced telemetry monitoring

systems which evaluate the arrhythmic profile and changes in the

20

EGC (the onset of arrhythmia, ischemic changes on the ECG trace)

over a 24-hour period. 9 beds also have continuous monitoring of

saturimetry (constant measurement of the percentage of oxygen in

the blood).

The average stay is 5 days.

Patients are usually discharged to their homes, but ongoing care at

home can also be arranged, and in special conditions or for specific

illnesses, staff will discuss with the patient and his family the option

of transferring to nursing homes, Cura Pineta del Carso care home,

or the patient’s local hospital.

For patients admitted after a myocardial infarction, there is an inter-

hospital cardiology motor rehabilitation programme, run by

physiotherapists with specific cardiovascular training.

On discharge, medical and nursing staff will explain the discharge

letter to the patient. This letter contains the results of all the tests

carried out (and a CD of angiographic procedures, and a pacemaker

file for electrophysiology implants), a treatment plan (where drugs

are required) and the date of the next clinical appointment. The first

cycle of treatment is carried out with drugs provided by the hospital

pharmacy.

A consolidated Organizational Model ensures that on discharge from

hospital, the patient will receive care from his own general

practitioner and cardiologist, and from the local health authority’s

Continuity of Care service, in particular from the Cardiovascular

Centre with whom joint protocols have been established and are

regularly updated as part of the work of the Inter-Hospital Cardiology

Department of the Giuliano-Isontina Region.

21

Alarms and signals

In the ward rooms there are pieces of equipment such as cardiac

monitors, infusion pumps etc. which emit audio/visual signals. The

functioning of this equipment is controlled by staff.

These alarms can sometimes be very sensitive, and can be activated

even when there is no risk. This is why relatives should not be

alarmed, as the staff will check the situation and take the appropriate

action.

Due to possible interference with electromedical equipment, mobile

phones must not be used, except where strictly necessary and for

short conversations. We would ask you in any case to switch off the

ring tone of any mobile devices.

22

CARDIAC ULTRASOUND

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex Cattinara Hospital –

open from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Director: Dr. B. Pinamonti

Echocardiographs are carried out in order to identify and investigate

clinical cardiovascular problems. Each year, around 10,000 full

cardiac ultrasound tests are carried out (M-mode, bidimensional,

tridimensional, Doppler, color Doppler, transesophageal,

pharmacological and ergometric echo stress tests and echo

contrasts).

A cardiac ultrasound test generally consists of a monodimensional

and bidimensional investigation, followed by an echo Doppler test

(pulsed, continuous wave and colour flow), required for a quali-

quantitative assessment of the structures of the heart, the major

veins and intracardiac blood flow.

23

If specifically required, a transesophageal echocardiogram can be

carried out, in order to obtain a better view of the chambers and

valves of the heart, the presence of an endocavital thrombus, aortic

disease or endocarditic vegetation, or an echo stress test (usually

with dobutamine) to detect ischemic or vital myocardium. The

laboratory can also carry out three-dimensional echocardiograms.

A digitalized picture archiving system (PACS) connects the

echocardiographs, digital images and remote viewing feature.

These tests can be booked through the CUP appointment booking

service, according to a prioritisation system approved by the local

health authority and periodically reviewed.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital

The Electrocardiography Lab completes more than 20,000

registrations each year. The Cardiology Division carries out and

interprets electrocardiograms for:

Patients admitted to the Cardiology Division or monitored as

outpatients;

Patients admitted to other divisions of the hospital;

External patients referred from general practitioners (with the

GP’s referral note and an appointment booked through the CUP

booking service), or from the Emergency Ward.

A computerised system allows records to be transmitted, archived

and traced remotely, as well as the serial comparison of records and

24

a connection to the district clinics, local health authority

Cardiovascular Centre, and the IRCCS at Burlo Garofolo Hospital.

These tests can be booked through the CUP appointment booking

service, according to a prioritisation system approved by the local

health authority and periodically reviewed.

HIGH-RESOLUTION AND HOLTER ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital

The High-resolution and Holter Clinic completes more than 2,700

recordings each year, using devices that enable monitoring over a

period of 24 hours to 3 months, with 3 or 12 channels.

Advanced software is available for heart rate variability testing, i.e.

variability, QT dispersion and ST variations (12 channels).

Holter testing, which is prolonged ECG monitoring, can pick up and

quantify paroxysmal arrhythmia that cannot be seen on a simple

ECG. It can also confirm or rule out whether or not the patient’s

symptoms are related to arrhythmia, measure the heart rate over a

24-hour period, and detect possible episodes of myocardial

ischemia.

High-resolution electrocardiography is a technique that can show on

the ECG readout whether there are any potential ventricular

irregularities. It is particularly important in patients with a history of

myocardial infarction or myocardial disease, who are at risk of

sudden death.

25

This extremely specialised test is requested by doctors from the

Cardiology Division for patients admitted to the division, outpatients,

and those referred from other divisions in the hospital.

The Holter clinic also uses the Holter ABPM, an inflatable armband

device which records arterial pressure day and night, in order to

optimise anti-hypertension treatment for patients who have difficulty

in controlling arterial pressure.

Holter tests for signs of arrhythmia can also be booked through the

CUP appointment booking service, according to a prioritisation

system approved by the local health authority and periodically

reviewed.

ERGOMETRY AND TILT TESTS

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital

The Ergometry and Ergospirometry Lab, which evaluates oxygen

consumption, carries out approximately 1,500 tests each year.

A stress test is carried out before and after a cycle of cardiac

rehabilitation, and for diagnostic purposes in patients with known or

suspected cardiac disease, to look for signs of inducible ischemia or

stress-induced cardiac arrhythmia.

The test is always preceded by a specialised cardiology consultation.

The tilting test is recommended in a few selected cases of recurrent

fainting in which the clinical assessment, prolonged ECG monitoring

and neurological tests have proved negative.

26

The test is requested by the doctors of the Cardiology, Emergency

Medicine and Clinical Neurology Divisions. The information given by

general practitioners and other hospital divisions is always given to

the director of the Arrhythmia or Pacemaker Clinics.

DIVISIONAL OUTPATIENTS’ SERVICE

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital,

open Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The Cardiology Outpatients’ Service is for "internal" patients admitted

to other divisions (pre-operative, peri-postoperative care, and

patients from internal departments) and “external” patients requiring

specialist care and cardiology testing prior to admission or after

discharge from our division or another department of the hospital.

The consulting service for internal patients is governed by a specific

procedure and document approved by the Healthcare Directorate,

and is approved by a multidisciplinary team from the university and

hospital, which determines the types, targets, procedures and timing

of the consultations. The consultation reports and all diagnostic tests

are available on the Cardionet-G2 system.

PACEMAKER AND DEFIBRILLATOR CLINIC

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital,

open from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 a.m. until 1.30 p.m. (Tel:

preferably between 12 and 1 p.m.) Monday and Friday from 8.30 to 9

a.m.: removal of stitches;

27

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday between 9 a.m. and 1

p.m.: checking of pace makers;

Tuesday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.: checking of defibrillators

and resynchronization devices;

The pace maker unit is intended for patients who have been fitted

with a pace maker or automatic defibrillator at the Cardiology

Division or other divisions, inside or outside the region. The nurses

and doctors working at the unit are specialised in arrhythmology and

electrophysiology and have an in-depth knowledge of the devices

and programmers.

The subsequent appointment is scheduled at each visit. The date

and time of the appointment is noted in a specific diary, and clearly

marked on the record sheet which is always handed to the patient at

the end of the visit.

If an unscheduled visit is necessary, the patient can access the

department at the written request of his own doctor (addressed to the

Pace maker Department of the Cardiology Division, Cattinara

Hospital), directly by telephone. Each year, around 3,500 pace

maker checks are carried out, as well as 300 tests on defibrillators

and resynchronization devices.

The staff can be contacted during the above hours.

CLINICS FOR CARDIOMYOPATHY AND HEART FAILURE,

COMPLEX ANGIOPLASTIES AND PERCUTANEOUS AORTIC

PROSTHESES, PERCUTANEOUS TREATMENT OF

CONGENITAL DEFECTS

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital -

28

Open from Monday to Friday (8.30 a.m. until 3 p.m.); the division is

operational throughout the day, by appointment. An answering

machine is always in operation.

The Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Clinic is intended for heart

patients suffering from cardiomyopathies, heart failure and/or

ventricular dysfunction. Its aim is to plan an accurate, rigorous

diagnostic procedure, provide information for genetic screening,

optimise pharmacological treatment and provide indications for

invasive procedures or surgery, including heart transplants. The unit

has been organised to carry out personalised clinical tests on the

patients’ needs, and to provide rapid responses without waiting

times, in the case of clinical destabilization or complications.

Clinical and/or instrumental tests are carried out on patients

discharged from the Cardiology Division or other divisions in the

hospital, who require tests at a dedicated unit, or on selected

external patients (usually after contact from the referring cardiologist,

or by the sending of documentation), admitted to accredited hospitals

inside or outside the region, or patients referred by personnel from

the Emergency Ward.

Our links with the IRCCS at Burlo Garofolo Hospital, the International

Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and the University

of Denver in Colorado help to support our work related to clinical and

molecular genetic aspects of cardiomyopathies.

Due to the highly specialised nature of this service, admission to the

Heart Failure Clinic is selective, and will be discussed beforehand by

the referring physician and the hospital staff, or at least assessed on

the basis of a written report sent by the patient’s doctor.

29

DIAGNOSTIC AND INVASIVE ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY AND

ARRHYTHMIA CLINIC

Location: Ground Floor, Cardiology Complex, Cattinara Hospital.

Open from Monday to Friday (8.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.). The unit is

operational throughout the day, by appointment.

The Electrophysiology and Electrostimulation Clinic is dedicated

to the assessment and invasive treatment of arrhythmia, whether

hypokinetic (bradyarrhythmia), or hyperkinetic (tachyarrhythmia).

An electrophysiological assessment or study will highlight any

anomalies in the electrical impulse conduction system, and over-

excitability of the myocardium tissue, by means of central venous

electrode catheter insertion. In many cases, the procedure is

followed by the treatment itself, using the same electrode catheters

which are able to neutralise the small area of tissue responsible for

the arrhythmia by delivering high-frequency electromagnetic waves

(RF ablation).

The Arrhythmia Clinic is dedicated to patients with particularly

complex arrhythmic problems or those who are potentially sensitive

to non-pharmacological treatment (particular trans-catheter ablation

and the fitting of advanced resynchronization and defibrillation

devices).

Clinical and/or instrumental tests are carried out on patients

discharged from the Cardiology Division or other divisions in the

hospital, who require a specialised arrhythmia test, on selected

external patients admitted to private hospitals in the Trieste area, or

elsewhere in the region, external patients referred by external

cardiologists, internists and general practitioners in Trieste and the

30

surrounding area, and patients referred by personnel from the

Emergency Ward.

Due to the specific characteristics of the Arrhythmia Clinic, admission

is selective, and should be discussed between the referring

physician and departmental supervisors beforehand, or at least

assessed on the basis of a written report sent by the patient’s doctor.

The department treats about 50 patients every month.

The time of each appointment is determined every three months, by

the doctors responsible for this type of treatment.

31

CARDIOLOGY UNIT AT OSPEDALE MAGGIORE; CARDIAC

REHABILITATION

Location: Ospedale Maggiore, via Pietà 2/2 (Distretto), 1st floor

34134, Trieste

Director: Dr. P. Maras

Tel: 040 – 399 2906; fax: 040 – 399 2208

Email: [email protected]

This Unit provides urgent and/or scheduled consultation services for

patients admitted to the following divisions: the Emergency Ward,

Critical Care Unit, 2nd Medical Division, Motor Rehabilitation, Nephrology

and Dialysis, Infectious Diseases, Oncology and Radiotherapy.

It also provides pre-operative consulting services for Stomatology,

Orthopedics, Ophthalmology and Day Surgery.

32

It carries out diagnostic ergometry procedures on patients referred from

hospital cardiology units or cardiologists within the Trieste No. 1 local

health authority, after approval by the cardiology specialist.

15 patients are given an ECG each day after booking an appointment

through the booking desk (CUP), while “code red” urgent ECG requests

are dealt with immediately.

1 Holter test each day is carried out through the CUP, while another 2

daily tests are allocated to the wards of Ospedale Maggiore and

patients being treated in Rehabilitation.

Cardiac ultrasound procedures are provided twice a week, in

collaboration with the Echocardiography Lab at the Cardiology Complex,

for patients admitted to Ospedale Maggiore and Rehabilitation.

The division also organises and carries out, in collaboration with Nuclear

Medicine, a weekly session of myocardial stress scintigraphy (about 6 -

7 patients per day are sent from the Cattinara Cardiology Division, local

and regional cardiologists from Monfalcone and Palmanova.

This Unit also provides Cardiac Rehabilitation, which is defined as “all

the procedures needed to ensure the best possible physical,

psychological and social wellbeing for heart patients, so they can

maintain or regain their place in society”.

Rehabilitation at the Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Division starts

early, and is led by physiotherapists during the patient’s stay in hospital.

After that, at least all patients with STEMI and NSTEMI myocardial

infarction, patients who have undergone aortocoronary bypass

operations, those with valve disease who have also had a bypass, and

patients discharged from Cardiology after coronary angioplasty are

treated for a further 3 months.

The procedure consists of a clinical examination, followed by a

submaximal stress test for STEMI cases and patients who have

undergone surgical revascularization (after one month for acute

33

myocardial infarctions and as soon as possible for the second

category), in order to start the rehabilitation process.

A four-week exercise programme (exercise bikes) is planned for each

patient, with 2-3 visits a week.

At the end of the first 4 weeks, the patient then undergoes a clinical ECG

assessment. A further series of gym-based group activities is planned,

for another 4 weeks (2 or 3 visits a week).

After 3 months, the patient’s treatment ends with a clinical assessment,

ECG, Holter test if necessary, and a stress test. He is then referred to

his own doctor for check-ups with the local cardiologist.

For selected patients with unresolved ischemia issues, or uncontrolled

heart failure, the clinical follow-up will continue for up to 6 months.

The outpatient service is aimed at patients discharged from hospital with

a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, from the medical units of our

own institution, and other hospitals.

The work of the Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit is governed

by internal and interdepartmental protocols and procedures.

COMPUTERIZATION

The Division has implemented advanced computer systems for the

archiving, transmission and recording of bio-images acquired in

digital format from various diagnostic imaging sources. The network

(PACS) creates subsystems for the acquisition, display and

printing out of images, for image management and ar chiving ,

and finally for networked communications. The network connects

the various parts of the system, integrating the PACS with public

healthcare computer systems, and distributes data so that it can be

accessed by staff (access is always password-protected), so that the

34

patient’s history can be accessed even if the records are held by

healthcare facilities some distance away.

35

ADMISSION TO THE CARDIOLOGY DIVISION

Patients are admitted to the division as follows:

ORDINARY scheduled admissions apply to patients already

registered with our division, with a planned date of admission for

invasive tests or diagnosis;

URGENT admissions, via access to the Emergency Ward or

urgent cases from other regional hospitals (other divisions,

cardiovascular centres in the surrounding area) or other regions.

DAY-HOSPITAL admissions are used for interventions or

procedures which do not require a stay in hospital (e.g.

electrophysiological studies, right-side catheterization,

replacements of pacemaker or defibrillator batteries, electrical

cardioversion etc).

Preferential access to the EMERGENCY WARD is always

guaranteed.

TREATMENTS AND AVERAGE WAITING TIMES (as of 07/2010)

Treatment Average waiting time (days)

“Priority” cardiac ultrasound

Elective cardiac ultrasound

15

47

Cardiac ultrasound with contrast *

Transesophageal cardiac ultrasound *

Cardiac ultrasound with

physical/pharmacological stress *

Dynamic Holter ECG 2

High-resolution electrocardiogram *

36

Electrocardiogram 2

24-hour blood pressure monitoring *

Ergometric cycle test *

Mobile platform stress test *

Tilt test *

* Access after specialised cardiology examination w ith internal appointment, as necessary.

PAIN CONTROL

A patient’s pain levels are constantly monitored by physicians and

nurses, during a stay in hospital, so that treatment is compassionate

and tailored to the needs of the individual. We use a mixed scale

which can be easily understood by the patient. It ranges from 0 (no

pain) to 10 (intolerable pain).

INFORMED CONSENT

Patients have the right to receive full information about the progress

of their diagnosis and treatment, and to give or withhold their consent

to proposed treatments and procedures.

Pain? No thanks!

37

During the patient’s stay in hospital, general consent will be

requested, as well as specific consent, as required by law, for

invasive and/or more complex procedures.

The following procedures require informed consent:

Healthcare, diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical treatments;

Clinical trials

The use of personal information.

The consent procedure involves various phases and incorporates

informative material that is periodically updated and available at any

time.

PATIENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR TREATMENT

A strong alliance between physician and patient and the creation of a

trust-based relationship are essential for effective healthcare. We

pay great attention to combining a professional attitude, technical

skill and technological advances in diagnosis and treatment with a

willingness to listen, compassion, and regular information for patients

and relatives.

The patient is entitled to participate in the preparation of his

treatment plan, and to be informed on how his illness could impact

his quality of life, the treatments and procedures which could

eliminate or at least reduce potential pain and suffering.

All patients can interrupt the clinical care process at any stage, or

refuse a certain type of treatment. Medical staff must inform the

patient about the possible consequences of such a decision.

Information about the patients’ state of health is given by the

consultant and doctors.

38

For obvious reasons of confidentiality, all clinical information is only

relayed to members of the patient’s close family, or other people

expressly designated by the patient.

Relatives can see the medical records together with the doctor.

To guarantee continuity of information, it is a good idea that the

same person regularly speaks to the doctor. Family members are

regularly involved in the patient's care programme.

At the time of discharge (and in special cases, during the patient’s

stay in hospital), the patient’s general practitioner and specialist will

be informed, in a detailed letter of discharge, about the reasons for

the patient’s stay in hospital, his clinical condition, outlook,

educational aspects, and care programme.

N.B.: FOR REASONS OF PRIVACY, INFORMATION ABOUT PATIENTS’ CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE GIVEN OVER THE TELEPHONE. YOU ARE KINDLY ASKED NOT TO INSIST.

NO!

39

HOW TO IDENTIFY HOSPITAL STAFF BY THE COLOUR OF THEIR UNIFORMS

white

physicians, biologists, chemists, physicists, pharmacists

green with dark

green collar

nursing coordinators

green

registered nurses

yellow

general nurses

blue with white collar

public health and welfare workers

blue

auxiliary staff

pale blue with white

collar

senior technicians

pale blue with dark

blue collar

physiotherapists, speech therapists, orthoptists and occupational therapists

pale blue

technicians (radiology department, laboratory etc.)

white with orange

strip on pocket

On the ward, you may also see volunteers. You can recognise them

40

by their white shirts, bearing a tag with their name and the

association to which they belong.

RELIGION

The faith of any patient admitted to our hospital will be respected.

Ministers of your own religion are welcome to attend.

A Catholic priest visits the Cardiology Division daily.

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

Patients will receive information from doctors and nurses either

orally, on information sheets, informed consent forms, or by means

of explanations about the intended programme of treatment and

tests.

For foreign patients, a cultural mediator will be asked to intervene to

assist in explaining the tests, treatment programme and to liaise with

the doctor about the care programme.

41

CULTURAL MEDIATION

A cultural mediator is someone who

speaks the native language of a non-

Italian patient, helping him or her to

understand what is being asked,

prescribed or proposed by the

physician and other hospital staff.

A cultural mediator intervenes so that non-Italian patients can

understand:

the health issue;

urgent requirements;

how and why the clinical tests and diagnostic procedures are

carried out, and the types of consent required;

the diagnosis

treatment to be followed after discharge from hospital.

VISITORS

It is certainly beneficial for patients to receive visitors, but more than

two per room can create noise and discomfort, given the limited

space available and the presence of other patients.

Cardiology patients who are able to get up can be visited by friends

and family in the lounge.

Young children should not be brought to the hospital, in order to

protect their health. If it cannot be avoided, they should if possible

42

stay in the lounge area.

In particularly serious cases or for specific reasons, family members

will be allowed to remain with their relative at other times, with

limitations dictated by specific situations that may arise.

Please always provide nursing staff with your telephone number.

If a patient is transferred or there is a sudden change in condition,

his family will be informed by telephone, at any time, by the nursing

staff or doctor on duty.

For relatives: if you are handed your relative’s personal effects for

safekeeping, please check carefully that everything is in order before

signing for receipt.

For patients: if you have to leave the ward you must always inform

the nursing staff of where you are going, and for how long.

PATIENT SAFETY

The Cardiology Division has implemented measures to protect

patients’ safety, including the correct identification of each patient by

means of an ID bracelet. Other measures have been put in place to

improve the management of high-risk drugs (concentrated

electrolytes are not found on the wards except where clinically

necessary and authorised by hospital policy, and where measures

have been implemented to prevent accidental administration).

Measures are in place to:

• reduce the risk of hospital infections;

• reduce the risk of injuries to patients caused by falling;

• prevent medical errors and analyse warning events;

• identify patients accurately;

• communicate effectively with patients and their relatives;

43

• reduce delays in the various care processes.

The environment is constantly monitored, and electromedical

devices undergo periodic controls and safety and maintenance

checks.

MOBILE PHONES

The use of mobile phones is PROHIBITED

as it can interfere with the equipment on the

ward.

MEALS

Meals can be chosen each day, based on the diet prescribed by the

doctor.

Breakfast: 7.30 a.m. Lunch: 12 noon Dinner: 6:30 p.m.

If the patient wishes to bring food from home, the doctor or nurse

must be informed beforehand. Some illnesses do not permit an

unrestricted diet. Bringing food in from home without our knowledge

could harm your relative.

44

A heart patient’s diet must take into account the risk factors involved

in cardiac diseases. In general, we recommend:

maintaining a desirable weight (avoid becoming overweight)

doing physical exercise (an agreed amount of aerobic exercise,

every day)

reducing the amount of food that contains saturated fats, total

fats and cholesterol (butter, red meat, fatty fish etc.). The main

condiment should be extra-virgin olive oil, used cold and poured

on to the food after cooking

controlling the amount of simple sugars (cakes, ice-cream and

chocolate but also excessive amounts of fruit and dairy

products), salt, alcohol, and caffeine

varying the diet as much as possible, by eating fruit and

vegetables in season.

Every action the body performs – including digestion - means work

for the heart. Correct nutrition can reduce the strain on the heart,

which is why we recommend:

THE PROPER DIET FOR

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Dietary advice from the Cardiology Division

and Dietetics Service.

45

spreading food intake throughout the day (5 meals for example)

and avoiding large meals

chewing thoroughly and slowly to aid digestion

choosing simple foods over elaborate dishes

avoiding fried food and dressings

herbs (rosemary, sage, basil, oregano, parsley, garlic), lemon,

vinegar and plain tomato sauce can be used to flavour food

drinking plenty of liquids such as plain water, chamomile tea,

barley drinks, natural infusions or weak tea.

choosing plant-based foods (bread, pasta, fruit, vegetables, oils

and legumes, which are cholesterol-free and very low in

saturated fats). Meat should be limited to no more than 3-4 times

out of 14 meals per week, and preference should be given to

poultry, rabbit, turkey, and lean cuts of beef and horsemeat.

Fish should be eaten 6-8 times out of 14 meals per week. Fish -

such as sole, trout, turbot, skate, monkfish, cod and oily fish - is

one of the best choices of animal-derived foods, due to the

content of essential fatty acids. Seafood, eels and salmon are

not recommended.

Limit your intake of cheese to no more than 1-2 times a week,

giving preference to fresh cheeses such as ricotta made from

cow’s milk, or mozzarella. There is no such thing as “low fat”

cheese, only cheese that contains less fat than others. Milk or

yogurt, preferably low-fat, should be consumed once a day for

its calcium content.

Legumes (beans, peas, soya, chick peas and lentils etc.) are

also a source of protein, and contain no saturated fats or

cholesterol, and make a good choice for the second course of a

46

main meal.

Charcuterie products and sliced meats are not recommended,

due to their content of salt, saturated fats and cholesterol. Parma

ham, lean cooked ham with the fat removed, and bresaola is

permitted occasionally.

Eggs should be limited, and offal (brains, liver, kidneys) must be

avoided because they are particularly high in cholesterol.

If you are not overweight, bread, pasta and rice (including

wholegrain rice) can be consumed quite freely, paying careful

attention to the dressing or sauce used, and always keeping to

the desired weight.

Vegetables (fresh or frozen) contain an important source of

fibre, and are known for their “fill-you-up” effect. They should

therefore be consumed regularly, at least twice a day.

Fruit can be consumed as a mid-morning and mid-afternoon

snack. The recommended amount is 2-3 pieces of seasonal fruit

per day, but nuts and oily fruit should be avoided.

On discharge, the patient will be given personalised dietary advice

based on his illness and other risk factors (such as a low-sodium diet

in the case of hypertension; in the case of heart failure care must be

taken with liquids, or in the case of high cholesterol, attention must

be paid to the amount of cholesterol-rich or fatty foods, etc.).

47

DRUGS

Please note that all drugs, even those considered "harmless",

contain chemicals that interact with each other. These substances

can increase, reduce or even cancel out the effect of drugs

prescribed by a doctor. We therefore recommend that patients do not

take or keep personal drugs. If a specific treatment has to be

continued, the doctor should be informed to have the treatment

validated and ordered from the Hospital Pharmacy.

CASH AND VALUABLES

Although the department is constantly

monitored, it is not advisable to leave

large sums of cash or valuables with

the patient.

RULES OF CONDUCT

If you are admitted to the Cardiology Ward, for your own safety you

must not leave the ward without the express authorisation of a

member of staff.

If you decide to leave the hospital against the will of the staff looking

after you, you will be asked to sign a disclaimer.

If you have any queries, the staff are at your disposal.

48

CERTIFICATE OF ADMISSION

A certificate of admission to hospital, required in order to justify an

absence from work, study or for insurance purposes, can be

obtained from the Admissions Administration Office on the 3rd floor,

close to the Emergency Ward, from Monday to Friday from 7.15 a.m.

until 6.45 p.m. and on Saturday from 7.15 a.m. until 6 p.m. (closed

on Sundays).

COMPLAINTS

Complaints should be made to the Public Relations O ffice (open

from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) as follows:

in person

by telephone (Tel. 040/3994035 040/3992237)

by letter, fax (040.399 2486) or e-mail

([email protected])

using the special form available at the Information Points and

complaint boxes located in both hospital sites.

DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL

The patient will be handed a detailed letter of discharge, stating the

diagnosis and details of the diagnostic tests carried out during his

stay, the latest blood tests, a copy of the electrocardiograph readout,

any other procedures he has undergone, drugs to be taken at home,

guidelines on behaviour, diet and recovery, and post-discharge

check-ups, appointments with our divisional outpatients’ service on

the Ground Floor, or at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit of Ospedale

Maggiore, or the Cardiovascular Centre in Via Farneto (ASS1).

49

Patients fitted with pace makers will be handed a folder containing

information about the type of pace maker and subsequent

examinations.

Patients who have undergone a coronarography and angioplasty will

be handed a CD with a copy of the test, to be kept and brought with

the patient at the time of any subsequent admission to hospital.

The patient will receive a letter, addressed to his own doctor,

containing the diagnosis, recommended treatment and details of the

main tests carried out.

You are asked to hand the discharge report to your own doctor and

cardiologist as soon as possible.

In order to improve the quality of our service, we would be grateful if

you would report any inconvenience or problem to the medical staff

or nursing coordinators.

If the patient requires continued treatment before returning home, a

Continuity of Care programme will be set up (the home nursing

service in the patient’s district will be contacted in order to set up a

support network to help the patient and his family to recover as

efficiently as possible).

50

HOW TO REQUEST A COPY OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS

Copies of medical records can be requested by the patient himself or

by another person on submission of the patient’s ID card and that of

the person requesting the records. When requesting the records of a

minor, a self-certification must be attached, confirming the

applicant’s status as parent or legal guardian. If requesting the

records of a deceased person, the request must be accompanied by

a self-certification confirming that the person making the application

is the legitimate heir of the deceased.

The request can be submitted:

After discharge from hospital, IN THE EVENT OF

ACUTE SYMPTOMS (prolonged chest pain, sudden

shortness of breath, prolonged palpitations) YOUR

FIRST POINT OF CALL IS THE EMERGENCY WARD

where the consultant cardiologist will be called.

51

at the CUP appointment booking service, at Cattinara Hospital or

at Ospedale Maggiore

Where to collect the records – Medical records can be collected

from the CUP desk, or can be sent to your home (postal charges to

be borne by the person making the request)

How to collect them – The records can be collected by the patient

himself or by a person with a signed authorisation form, in which

case the person collecting must have a photocopy of the patient’s ID

card.

When requesting copies of medical records from the CUP desk, the

patient must pay a fixed charge (in advance). When the records are

collected, he will have to pay a fee which varies depending on the

number of pages to be photocopied.

CONTINUITY OF CARE

Continuity of care between the Trieste University Hospital and the

Trieste Local Health Authority No. 1 is intended to provide assistance

to the patient after discharge from hospital, so that he can receive

care from the district health service and his general practitioner,

other public health workers and voluntary associations.

The hospital wards will liaise with the district home nursing service,

in order to:

increase the number of patients benefiting from post-hospital

care, especially the elderly, those suffering from heart disease,

bronchial disease, phlebopathic patients or diabetics with a history of

repeated admission to hospital;

52

guarantee prompt, efficient care.

During the patient’s stay in hospital, the best treatment procedure

and post-discharge treatment programme will be agreed with the

patient and his relatives. In some cases patients are referred to the

Cardiovascular Centre, their own cardiologist, or in certain more

complex cases to the Pineta del Carso care home or other nursing

homes, to continue their rehabilitation in a protected environment.

ORGANISATION, COMMUNICATION, TRAINING AND QUALITY

CONTROL

Life at the Cardiology Division is characterised by scheduled

meetings, and other opportunities for the discussion, analysis,

organisation and updating of clinical activities.

Every morning at 8.30 a.m., from Monday to Saturday,

clinical reports, critical assessments, discussion and

planning of operational issues;

At 2.30 p.m. every day, Monday to Friday; discussion of

cases involving invasive cardiology procedures;

From 8 – 8.30 a.m. every Wednesday morning; clinical

update;

At 3 p.m. every Wednesday afternoon, discussion of

cardiac surgery cases, open to fellow cardiologists from

the Giuliano Isontina region;

Every Friday at 8 a.m.: cardiac ultrasound meeting;

One Friday a month: discussion of individual cases:

Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Clinic, or Molecular

Cardiology meeting.

53

54

SCIENTIFIC AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Knowledge transfer and clinical research have always played an

important role in the life of the Cardiology Division. These activities

mainly revolve around medical and epidemiological aspects, the

causes of disease, and the natural history of patients with myocardial

disease or heart failure.

Since the 1980s, research in this field has been organised through

the “Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Study Group”, seen as a

national centre of excellence, which gathers its data from a

structured Register.

Structured research activities mainly relate to the following areas:

Myocardial Disease and heart failure;

Genetically-determined dilated cardiomyopathy;

The treatment of heart failure;

Pulmonary arterial hypertension;

Anatomoclinical epidemiological correlation studies;

Histomorphological and immunohistochemical studies of

endomyocardial biopsy;

Molecular Cardiology, Cellular Therapy and

Neoangiogenesis.

Over the years, there have been many international randomized,

multicentre, controlled clinical trials and Register activities in the

following areas: ischemic cardiopathy, invasive cardiology, acute and

55

chronic heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiovascular prevention and

rehabilitation.

The patient is always given consent forms for the use of personal

data, the inclusion of clinical data in observational registers, and

inclusion in clinical trials.

Medical staff play an educational and tutorial role for students of

medicine and surgery, and for various specialization schools.

There is regular collaboration (the result of years of intense research

activity), with the Colorado Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute

(University of Colorado, Denver, USA), the Genetic Medicine Unit at

the Burlo Garofolo Paediatric Hospital, Trieste, the International

Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in

Padriciano, Trieste, the Institute of Pathological Anatomy of Trieste

University and various other university institutions and international

hospitals.

NOTE

This booklet contains information valid at time of printing and is

periodically updated. Among the other issue, however, may

intervene in the operation changes.

56

ACCREDITED FOR ORGANIZATION BY

JOINT COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL Written by the Communications Office in collaboration with the Public Relations Office, based on text and pictures supplied by the Cardiology Division (Dr. Francesca Brun) in line with Joint Commission International Accreditation standards. Tel. 040 – 399 6301; 040 – 399 6300; fax 040 399 6298 e-mail: [email protected] Strada di Fiume 447 – 34 149 Trieste

Revision 003 – 7 march 2012