If you want to be healthy, visit health centers!

      The week of September 15 to 21 has been declared by the Russian Ministry of Health as Patient Safety Week and a week for promoting health centers.

      The annual campaign is aimed at raising public awareness on patient safety issues. The oldest principle of medical ethics is “do no harm.” In the 21st century this saying became the foundation for the creation and observance of World Patient Safety Day. The official birthday of this observance is considered to be May 25, 2019. On that day, during the 72nd World Health Assembly, the resolution “Global Actions on Patient Safety” was adopted, in which 194 countries, including Russia, decided to observe World Patient Safety Day annually on September 17.

      Natalya Savitskaya, head of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention, talks about the tasks health centers solve regarding patient safety and physician performance.

      - Natalya Nikolaevna, what role do health centers play in patient safety?

      - The main goal of World Patient Safety Day is to draw the world’s attention to improving the quality of medical care and to develop methods that will minimize adverse effects on patients’ health.

      The relationship between a doctor and a patient is a central part of healthcare and medical practice. It is built on trust, respect and mutual understanding. This is what ensures high-quality patient care and optimal effectiveness of the physician’s work.

      Health centers play an important role in ensuring patient safety, disease prevention and promoting a healthy lifestyle among the population. In the Nizhny Novgorod region, 19 health centers operate on the basis of medical organizations, six of which are children’s health centers. They foster a culture of health, increase the population’s competence in issues of maintaining and strengthening health, enhance the prestige of health, and improve quality of life; among other things they shape motivational attitudes toward giving up tobacco, alcohol and other risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, and toward leading a healthy lifestyle.

      Within medical organizations in the Nizhny Novgorod region, seven adult health centers and four children’s centers have been opened. Specialists at these medical institutions address priority tasks facing the Russian healthcare system, which are in turn set by the regional Ministry of Health.

      - What tasks do health centers solve?

      - The most important tasks of health centers are:

      * Identifying risk factors for the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases;

      * Assessing basic human parameters (blood glucose and cholesterol levels, anthropometric data, spirometry, intraocular pressure and others);

      * Fostering among citizens a responsible attitude toward their own health and the health of their loved ones;

      * Teaching citizens effective methods of disease prevention;

      * Providing consultations on maintaining and strengthening health, including recommendations on diet correction, physical activity, exercise and sports, sleep regimen, living and working (study) conditions and rest;

      * Developing individualized health maintenance recommendations.

      Based on examinations of the region’s residents, an individual program for forming a healthy lifestyle is developed, with an assessment of risk factors, functional and adaptive reserves of the human body, taking into account age characteristics and rational nutrition; a consultation with a general practitioner is provided.

      - What does an examination at the center include?

      - There is a standard comprehensive examination at the health center, which includes:

      * measurement of height and weight;

      * examination using a computerized diagnostic system;

      * testing on the computerized system for screening assessment of psycho-physiological and somatic health, and for functional and adaptive reserves of the body;

      * computerized cardiac screening (rapid assessment of heart condition using ECG signals from the limbs);

      * angiological screening with automatic measurement of systolic blood pressure and calculation of the ankle-brachial index;

      * rapid tests to determine total cholesterol and blood glucose;

      * comprehensive detailed assessment of respiratory system function (computerized spirometry);

      * pulse oximetry;

      * bioimpedance analysis (measurement of body composition, proportions of skeletal muscle mass, fat and water);

      * consultation with a dentist;

      * consultation with an optometrist;

      * consultation with a general practitioner.

      The health center offers access to a therapeutic exercise room with an individualized physical activity program. Health education programs are also held at the centers for prevention of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, bronchial asthma and others.

      After modification of risk factors for disease development, a repeat examination is provided for dynamic monitoring of health status.

      - Who can become a patient of the health center?

      - First, active citizens who themselves want to learn about their health or want to give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse) or lose weight safely.

      Second, healthy patients referred by medical workers.

      Also patients referred by hospital physicians after an acute illness. This category also includes those referred by an employer based on the conclusion of the physician responsible for conducting periodic and in-depth medical examinations for health groups I and II.

      As for children, those aged 15–17 may independently apply to the health center. Children from birth to 17 years are accepted when accompanied by parents or their legal representatives.

      In principle, any healthy person can undergo an examination at a health center.

      All examinations for patients are FREE under Compulsory Medical Insurance (CMI) policies. Advance appointments are possible at each center.

      In conclusion, I would like to say that early seeking of medical care allows timely detection of chronic noncommunicable diseases as well as risk factors for their development. Therefore, undergo regular health check-ups and preventive medical examinations. Health is valuable at any age and for every person.