HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by von Segesser, L. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by von Segesser, L. K.

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2004;26:S78-S81
© 2004 Elsevier Science NL

Working Group Report

Creating innovative departments

Department of Cardio-vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland

^* Tel.: +41 21 314 22 80; fax: +41 21 314 22 79. (Email: ludwig.von-segesser{at}chuv.hospvd.ch). (URL: www.cardiovasc.net).

Abstract

‘Creating an innovative department’ as an objective implies further improvements in organization, function, and progression of a surgical unit active in patient care, research, and education. It is of prime importance to stress here the mutual benefits of patient care, research (the basis for future patient care) and education (the channel for training health care professionals in future patient care). Neither innovation (from latin innovare: to renew, revive) nor creation (from latin creare: to make, produce) is something that will fall from heaven without effort any time soon. Hence, a pro-active attitude towards progress is indicated. This requires searching for new ideas, allocation of resources, finding allies, getting focussed, and being persistent. One word says it all: WORK!

Key Words: Thoracic- and cardio-vascular surgery • Organization • Innovation • Future