The partnership between the OLV Clinic in Aalst and the

Gabrovo Hospital

A new stage of the development – the building of the cathlab in Gabrovo

12 May 2009

“Dr. Tota Venkova” hospital - Gabrovo

The Gabrovo Hospital covers a population of 130 000.

There are 30 wards of 350 beds totally with 120 doctors and 280

nurses.

Yearly about 17 000 patients and 25 000 out-patients are treated in the

hospital.

About 2500 cardiovascular patients are treated yearly in the Gabrovo hospital.

Then a protocol agreement was signed and it included doctors and nurses change, management practices and

patients’ consultations.

The partnership between the OLV Clinic in Aalst and the

Gabrovo Hospital started in 2000.

Up to now 18 Gabrovo doctors have practiced in the OLV Clinic for periods

of one to three months.

In 2008 Dr. Fonteyne consulted Gabrovo patients during his visit at the

hospital.

The same year Dr. Gillardin did some operations of thyroid gland.

From January 2009 until November 2009 three nurses from Gabrovo

Hospital are being trained at the OLV Clinic. In March and April 2009 two Belgium nurses at the end of their

studies at the university have completed a six-weeks training stay at

the Gabrovo Hospital.

In 2007 and 2008 Mr. Luc Van Den Bremt, Mr. Willy Van Impe, Sister Benedicta, Dr. Guy Heyndrickx,

Dr. Gillardin, Dr. Fonteyne, Mrs. Berte De Knijf, Mrs. Sabien Van Rampelberg

visited the Gabrovo Hospital. After discussions the decision of setting up a cathlab was taken.

The general project included invasive cardiology doctors and nurses

training to be organized.

During the talks the National Cardiology Centre was included as a partner.

A cardiologist from Gabrovo Hospital will be trained for invasive cardiology at the OLV

for a year. It was agreed Dr. Alexander Doganov and Dr. Milena Pehlivanova to work part time at the future cathlab in

Gabrovo.

The civil works at the cathlab premises are expected to be completed the end of May or the beginning of June 2009.

Full reimbursement by the National Insurance Fund is expected to start

after September 2009. Up to then there are two options existing – free invasive

procedures for patients or patients fully cover the expenses for their

treatment, or both.

Thank you for your attention!