Physicians spend their lives in study and in practice. With hundreds of years of medical research and knowhow to learn and comprehend, as well as daily breakthroughs in research and technology, it is imperative to constantly maintain as well as expand knowledge and skills.
“Here at Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai, we believe in focusing on five major areas of medical treatment and care, which are accident and emergencies, brain injuries and strokes leading to abnormal movements and memories, the heart, cancer and importantly and the prevention of diseases,” said Maj. Gen. Dr. Niwat Boonyuen, Director of Bangkok Hospital, Chiang Mai.
“With today’s mass transportation and increased speed of not just life, but vehicles, we are often seeing severe trauma which require a multidisciplinary approach. To that end Bangkok Hospital recently hosted the prestigious AOTrauma Masters Course here in Chiang Mai, in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University and AOTrauma Asia Pacific, in order to train, impart knowledge and empower orthopaedic and trauma surgeons, and support personnel, so that when it comes to a polytrauma patient, we can integrate all elements to provide patients with the skills and expertise to support the treatment of the totality of injuries.”
The AOTrauma Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded by Swiss orthopaedics in the 1950s, but which has now expanded into a global network, supporting medical professionals in caring for all manner of musculoskeletal injuries through research, development, education and training.
AOTrauma regularly hold courses worldwide for orthopaedic surgeons and other health professionals, which includes hands on experience. February 24th-26th saw 80 surgeons from throughout the north of Thailand participating in this world class course.
“Each year both private and public hospitals throughout Thailand hold around 100 such international level courses, conferences and seminars,” explained Dr. Niwat. “Thailand is recognised by the world’s medical professionals as having world-class medical standards. We were fortunate in that our forefathers saw the importance of medicine, with both His Majesties King Rama IV and V interested in the development of medicine. Since then there has been a consistent investment in medical science, and today our doctors as well as facilities and service are internationally recognised.”
“When you have a high impact trauma, it isn’t simply the bone which breaks or the skull which may crack, but the entire homeostatic mechanism, or the internal stability, of the body is damaged. This requires an immediate multidisciplinary approach, and it is this seamless integration which our physicians recently trained in. It requires high complexity, swift reaction, cohesive teamwork and the understanding of how the entire body is affected, and therefore must be treated. This is why training such as this AOTrauma Masters Course, which draws on the global reach, research, development and resources of the foundation, is crucial.”
Dr. Niwat believes that Chiang Mai’s medical services, facilities and personnel are of the highest standards and with excellent and constant up-skilling programmes such as these, hospitals such as Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai (BCM) will be even more ready to care for and treat patients with challenging or severe trauma.
“We are also very proud of another event we held at the same time, and that was the talks recently given by not only experts from Asia, but two of the world’s leading oncologists, both from the world renowned and prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA, accepted as the world’s leading oncology centre. Over 500 physicians flew in from all over the region — Japan, China, India, Korea and ASEAN — to this 13th International Conference of the Asian Clinical Oncology Society which we hosted. To have such distinguished physicians here in Chiang Mai training our medical personnel, is not only an honour, but a mark that we are a serious player on the international field.”
“Doctors spend six years at medical school,” concluded Dr. Niwat, “then another four or five years specialising. That’s just the beginning of their professional education. So for our doctors to have the chance to train and receive up to date knowledge on medical and technological advances right here on our doorstep, well, this is something that will only benefit all of us here in Chiang Mai. Our patients will receive better care and treatment, our medical economy will grow along with our reputation, and the region will benefit from such expertise.”
