Rīga Stradiņš University to develop largest clinical study centre nationwide at Riga East Clinical University Hospital

Earlier this month Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) and Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) signed an agreement on long-term cooperation, which foresees the construction of a RSU study base within the premises of Riga East Clinical University. The construction of the study base that will offer modern training facilities for RSU students and RAKUS staff, will be completed by January 2019. This willbe the first clinical study centre of such scale in Latvia.

Stage I of the construction project was completed last summer. By investing 943 000 EUR of its own funds, RSU has reconstructed the training premises with a total area of 1042 sqm. Investment in Stage II of the construction comprises an amount equal to the investment that has already been made and will equal the area that has already been renovated. The new study centre will be located in the left wing of the hospital, which already initially was designed to host training facilities with spacious classrooms and lecture halls. Now it is planned to adapt the premises for the requirements of a modern and functional study centre.

By expanding the facilities base which will play an instrumental role in the study process, the new RSU rector continues to pursue the development path taken by RSU together with the largest national health care institutions, “RSU is carrying forward the strategic aim of setting up training campuses within hospitals, besides clinical work. We are truly satisfied that similar cooperation has been started with other large hospitals in Riga, nationwide and also abroad, e.g. in Germany”, he stressed.

The new centre will play a major role as it will host training sessions not only for RSU students, but also provide all levels of training for RAKUS employees, including medical staff, administration, technical workers and support staff. The need for training, among other things stems from the EU requirement to provide special medical training that is related to patient safety.

The study centre will focus on the implementation of simulation-based learning techniques, to enhance the proficiency of students and other trainees, as simulation mannequins, dummies and digital solutions provide a safe environment for the upgrading of professional competences and for developing case-analysis algorithms to be used in practice only later in the hospital. The clinical study centre is a valuable asset both in terms of modernisation of the study process at RSU, for patient safety and for increasing the overall quality of the medical treatment institution. RSU participation in the renovation of the hospital’s premises also ensures more efficient and pragmatic use of the premises, taking into consideration the ongoing renovation works at RAKUS.