OVERVIEW

The course content is the result of the decades-long national and international experience of its Professor in the field of design and management in both public and private healthcare sectors. Therefore, it does not present theories, formulas, etc., but rather practical applications: in just 48 hours of lessons, extensive knowledge of clinical engineering is imparted, based on solid foundations of healthcare engineering, which are also provided.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Lo scopo principale dell'insegnamento è avviare gli Studenti ad un esame pragmatico del Sistema Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) e della relativa struttura (Aziende Locali, Ospedali, incluso lo studio delle loro varie aree e dipartimenti). Vengono anche discussi gli aspetti economici e finanziari del SSN. I principali obiettivi sono: fornire ai futuri ingegneri clinici una adeguata capacità di interlocuzione con i medici, al fine di capire le loro necessità e guidare una corretta applicazione dell'ingegneria clinica/biomedica; insegnare un adeguato approccio alla progettazione ospedaliera, dedicando particolare attenzione agli aspetti funzionali ed economici; fornire la capacità di progettare ed operare usando i moderni principi di Health technology assessment (HTA).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to prepare students who wish to pursue careers in engineering and management within the public and private healthcare sectors, working in service-providing facilities, manufacturing industries, and regional and national authorities. It offers comprehensive knowledge of clinical engineering and healthcare. The course is designed to provide technical and management concepts as well as guidelines on how to reduce management costs and improve the quality of services provided, facilitating communication, and understanding between engineers and doctors. The course will strengthen knowledge of hospital design, medical equipment, and global service. It will offer the latest updates on the post-pandemic COVID-19 situation and its impact on healthcare organization, particularly community based medicine. It will provide the latest information on the development of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the availability of substantial funds.

PREREQUISITES

Attendance in the course assumes knowledge of medical devices.

Those who attended the Fundamentals of Clinical Engineering course during their bachelor's degree (which this course is NOT a repetition of) will find important additional content in this course that builds on what was learned at the bachelor's level.

TEACHING METHODS

48 hours of lessons, including:

A visit to a healthcare facility/industry in Genoa

One or two “lectio magistralis” conducted by a professional/manager from the healthcare sector (if possible and justified by enough participants)

A test/class exercise which is mandatory for admission to the oral exam (the content varies each year and covers one of the topics discussed)

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to the SSN (National Health Service), a service that coordinates the SSR (Regional Health Systems).

Managing Health and Hospital Companies: How to manage health and hospital companies like any other business, with particular attention to economic and financial factors: the sustainability of health companies and hospitals.

Location and Design of Facilities: How to quickly and preliminarily calculate the necessary area for building a hospital based on data such as the number of operations to be performed and relevant recovery period.

Engineering and Economics in Healthcare: How to preliminarily estimate and calculate the construction costs of a hospital (with details on civil works, furnishings/medical equipment , and installations) and annual management costs.

The Balance Sheet: Profit and loss account adopted by companies according to the Civil Code and specifically for health companies.

Principles of Hospital Design: Students will learn how to set up the layout of a hospital and its related areas .

Presentation of Two Cutting-Edge Hospital Projects Under Construction: Examination of the main medical devices including their prices. Study of the main hospital areas: the emergency department, inpatient wards, intensive care units, operating rooms, and diagnostic area.

Management of Hospital Waste: Italian and international laws and regulations.

HTA (Health Technology Assessment): A sophisticated method for evaluating investments and processes in the healthcare sector.

The Course Includes recent Updates on the Post-Covid  era, with the related need to review territorial medicine and on the recent availability and use of NGEU funds provided under the PNRR, including for healthcare. Particular attention will be given to digital healthcare.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The course textbook is: "Ingegneria clinica e ingegneria per la Sanita, Clinical and Health care engineering" by Prof. Stefano Scillieri, published by Flaccovio (note: the latest edition is to be released on September 2024, previous editions are outdated). The book is written in both Italian and English.

The textbook will be supplemented by slides in English, which will be projected during lectures and distributed online to attending students.

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Teaching takes place in person.

Classes, from September to December, will take place according to a schedule that currently includes 4 hours per week in two modules of two hours each, every Monday and Tuesday from 12 PM to 2 PM, from September 23rd to December 17th inclusive.

Classes are not recorded

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Only oral exam.

During the course, there will be a written exercise whose result will certainly contribute to the student's evaluation.

Participation in the written exercise is mandatory and a prerequisite for the oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During the exam, the student will need to:

Clearly demonstrate an understanding of the concepts presented during the course.

Use terminology appropriate to the subject matter.

Ensure clarity in the presentation of concepts..

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Professor  is available to answer questions during the course.

stefano.scillieri@unige.it

The Professor is available to assign and supervise Bachelor's theses, which are usually carried out at Regional Health Authorities or Health and Hospital Companies.

In accordance with agreements with the Professor