Ternopil State Medical University signed up an agreement with a Polish company MedlineSp. Z.O.O. to create a simulation center

In recent years, Ternopil State Medical University has become a center for civilians, military, police, and volunteer doctors to study emergency and first aid and tactical medicine. They have been reporting that these knowledge and skills helped them to save more than one life by providing timely first aid. TSMU continually improves learning environment for students and provides them with practical training opportunities. To that end, currently the university is in a process of creating a powerful simulation center, which will be used not only for academic purposes, but will also become the base for training of law enforcement officers, uniformed volunteer corps, and others.

Polish company MedlineSp. Z.O.O.  expressed desire to contribute to the development of such a center in our city, because it also sees the need for training of not only students, but also military and police. In addition, the company is involved in social causes, and considers activities that will ultimately result in preservation of human life and health a vital part of this mission.

Representatives of the company MedlineSp. Z.O.O. Stefan Kuszczak and Volodymyr Hrytsyna arrived with official visit to Ternopil on July 12. They met with the Head of Ternopil Regional State Administration Stepan Barna, heads of departments of the State Administration, the Rector of Ternopil State Medical University, Professor Mykhailo Korda, and the Head of the Patrol police in Ternopil Volodymyr Struk to discuss further cooperation. As a result of the meeting, Rector of TSMU and Director of Medline Sp. Z.O.O. in Eastern Europe signed a cooperation agreement. The document outlines establishing and development of a simulation center at Ternopil State Medical University.

“We deliberately chose Ternopil for implementation of this project, because I am a graduate of the Medical University and my parents are Ukrainian. I know this city and its people well, so I decided to help to create the center here. In Poland, simulation centers are a mandatory component of all training hospitals, so we are happy to become involved to create such a center at Ternopil State Medical University. We wrote three large grants for funding within EU framework programs. If they are funded this year, we will immediately get down to work and buy a number of simulators. Another part of our social work is training police and military. This year, at the education and recreation complex Chervona Kalyna of the medical university we were involved in training of the National Guard, and  our expert taught a course. We want to prevent people needlessly dying as this causes suffering to everyone,  the state, the family and society. Since I cannot fight, I wanted to help with what I could “- said Stefan Kuszczak,  Director of Medline Sp. Z.O.O in Eastern Europe.

The Rector of TSMU Mykhailo Korda thanked the Polish side for their initiative to create the simulation center. He noted that the establishing and development of the training center is very important for the Ternopil region and Ukraine in general.

“This is one of our priorities. In carrying out my duties, I had the opportunity to visit such centers in Canada, US and Europe. Each institution of higher education there has simulation centers. They are urgently needed here, as they help to improve the quality of teaching and learning, especially of practical skills by students. We anticipate that our center will serve as a center for learning and training to police, other law enforcement agencies and the military. We have won an Erasmus Plus grant together with the University of Toulouse and soon our instructors will go there to train and develop their knowledge and skills “- said Mykhailo Korda.

One of the buildings of Ternopil State Medical University, which is located on Chekhov Street, has undergone renovations and is being outfitted with required furniture. There have already been installed functional hospital beds, dressing and surgery areas. The simulation center is being outfitted with mannequins, computer programs, and other modern facilities for training of students.

“First aid and training how to provide it are very important for Ternopil. Patrol police are people who first arrive on site of every accident they must be able to know how to react. In our professional experience we already had instances where the patrol police was able to save lives. We are grateful to the University and the Polish company for this initiative, “- said the head of the patrol police in Ternopil Volodymyr Struk.

Every police officer may find themselves in a situation when they will have to save a life. The representatives of the Polish company have demonstrated the medical kit their police patrols take on each call. Volodymyr Hrytsyna, Medline Sp. Z.O.O. Regional Manager in Eastern Europe showed in detail contents of the bag crews carry in each police car in Poland.

“We want to learn from this experience and implement it in Ukraine. Will start with Ternopol so that Patrol and National Police here will eventually meet European standards “- said Volodymyr Hrytsyna.

Head of the Department of Disaster Medicine and Military Medicine, Professor Arsen Hudyma noted that currently in Ukraine unfortunately the level of security is reduced, so the ability to provide first aid is remaining especially relevant.

“Ambulance crews are being called to help with gunshot wounds with increased frequency, so we are in need to develop standards for providing tactical emergency help. We are uniquely situated: the education and recreation complex  Chervona Kalyna allows to organize all needed teaching and training. It has a training center for the reserve officers of Medical Service. Those who wish to study can get there relevant field knowledge and experience, “- said Arsen Hudyma.

Notably, Stefan Kuszczak graduated from Ternopil State Medical University in 2009 and was one of the first graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry. At that time he was one of only three students from Poland. His family was relocated to Poland during Operation Vistula, but Stefan Kuszczak is proud of his Ukrainian origins, and teaches his children Ukrainian traditions.