[:en]The newest, most ambitious investment in the private health service in Albania.

22 March 2011

 This building, completely new, with an area of 6000 m2, positioned close to the Faculty of Medicine in the Dibra Street is the biggest investment of shareholders of this group in Albania and exceeds the amount of 20 million Euros. Functionality of the building of the American Hospital 2 is planned, structured and referred to ISO standards, for which this hospital is already certified and the standards of Joint Commission International, the highest accrediting international authority for the hospital service.

The American Hospital 2, which comes as a result of the increase of the requests for the American Hospital in Lapraka, shall be complementary to the existing one. The activity of the new hospital will be mainly focused on births, gynecological surgery, general surgery, orthopedics, urology and plastic surgery. But not only. One of the strong points, at the same time the biggest part of the new investment, is the Center of Reproduction, Health and In Vitro Fertilization and the first and only Laboratory of Andrology – Embriology in Albania.

The newest American Hospital has 9 floors, 23 polyclinic rooms, 58 single rooms, 5 suites (VIP), 3 birth rooms, 3 surgery rooms; reanimation with 8 beds for adults and one reanimation for the newly-born, unique in its kind, with the most advanced equipment in this area. Emergency, imagery, central laboratory, ambulances and pharmacy are only some of the supporting units of the polyclinic with its 24 departments to serve to the patients of the American Hospital 2.[:]

[:en]The American Hospital in Fier opened its doors. More than 200 representatives of high institutions, diplomatic corps, local government and medical staff participated in the opening ceremony.

In 2009, the American Hospital started its important itinerary of certification by ISO 9001:2008 and accreditation by the highest certification authority for health institutions; JCI.

Indisputable success of the Seminar: Chest Imaging with the participation of Ordinarius Prof. Dr. Rainer Rienmueller. Eminences of cardiology, radiology, and others discussed the latest imagery methodologies.

Regina Murati, the little girl maimed by the tragedy of Gërdecit underwent two important neurosurgical and aesthetical surgeries. The American Hospital kept its word publicly given to the family. Other surprises are awaiting Regina in 2010.

For the first time, the only hospital in the country, the American Hospital, organized a national conference in cooperation with Mother Theresa QSU. The National Conference on Oncology gathered together speakers from 7 different world countries and was congratulated by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Vasili.

The campaigns and free services of the American Hospital in 2009 were focused in the free screening against breast cancer, free examinations for persons over 60 years old, screening of the eye health of more than 400 pupils of secondary schools and surgical interventions in children with born problems in their eyes.

Organized in the frame of the professional education and academic mission of the American Hospital, the Cardiac Imagery Seminar in October 2009 gathered together cardiologists from the country in discussing the new methods and equipments.

The ORL team of the American Hospital in collaboration with the ORL service of QSUT and MEDEL Company realized successfully for the first time in the country and the region, the Cochlear Implant. Thanks to this intervention the first two patients will re-start hearing.

The first and only authentic medical journal in Albanian came into existence: VITAL[:]

[:en]Two sisters from Has, Rediana and Suada Mullaj, respectively 10 and 7 years old, born of deaf-mute parents, underwent an eye surgery in the American Hospital in Tirana, to correct the congenital cataract.

The congenital cataract surgery, or differently called born with a cataract, is an intervention needing not only a prepared team and expertise in this diagnosis but also a modern methodology and equipment. This surgery made possible by the American Hospital in cooperation with the Albanian Children Foundation is a result of common projects these institutions have undertaken.

The free examination of the eye health of about 180 children in the elementary school Ahmet Gashi in Tirana has been one of the most valuable projects of the Foundation and the American Hospital. The early diagnosis of eye problems was given its proper importance and the problematic cases were treated. An example of these cases is these girls that after the surgery their eyesight has increased in the operated eye and they will undergo surgery for the other eye within the next week.

On behalf of the Albanian Children Foundation, Mr. Liri Berisha, President of the Foundation and on behalf of the American Hospital Mr. Klodian Allajbeu, General Director of the hospital, have expressed several times their engagement for the continuity of these common projects that will help children with different help problems, mainly not treated in the country.[:]

[:en]The team consisting of Prof Dr Wolfgang Gstottner – ORL Clinic, Vienna University, Op. Dr. Dritan Vasili – ORL Surgeon, American Hospital, Prof Dr Pjerin Radovani – ORL Clinic of the University Hospital Center “Nënë Tereza”, Dr. Edlira Beqiri – ORL Doctor, American Hospital, have successfully operated on Manuela Harizi – 4 years old, born without hearing abilities and Roland Dollani – 57 years old, who had lost completely his hearing during the last years.

The two implants, whose costs reach the amount of 70 thousand Euros, are a result of the long work done by the team of the American Hospital in cooperation with the ORL clinic at the QSUT. The surgery of the 4 year old girl, Manuela Harizi, was made possible by the Foundation for Albanian Children with President Mrs. Liri Berisha. A special contribution in realizing this intervention is given by the Austrian Company MED – EL, which donated the implant equipment for both patients.

The cochlear implant, applied in the American Hospital, apart from being the first intervention of this type in the country, is very important even because it is programmed for Albanian speaking persons.

The two operated patients have been visited several hours after the intervention from the Prime Minister Sali Berisha and from his lady Liri Berisha, as well as from the Minister of Health, Petrit Vasili. After visiting the patients and getting information for their condition after the surgery, Prime Minister Berisha expressed his thanks to the hospital team and especially to the Viennese doctor Prof Dr Wolfgang Gstottner, whose work shall change completely the life of both patients suffering for years from complete absence of hearing.

During this visit, the Austrian doctor Wolfgang Gstottner expressed his pleasure that the surgery was ended in full success and in a few weeks the patients will be able to hear again.[:]

[:en]The Eye Centre at the American Hospital, Last Word Technology

The only ophthalmologic center in Albania that offers the latest technology services attracts numerous patients from in and out of the country.

Currently,the Eye Center at the American Hospital provides the widest range ofexaminations and surgical procedures for a modern ophthalmological clinic.

The centre provides services for children and adults and treats all the eye pathologies and it has become a point of reference in Albania and in the region.With a staff of 6 members who are trained in different fields of expertise, the American Hospital – Eye Centre has performed for the first time many new procedures, such as vision correction by laser, cataract surgery with phacoemulsification, the transplant of cornea, the keratoconus treatment, the vitreo-retinal surgery, etc.

Amedical staff composed of local and foreign experts conducts every patient treatment and intervention with high professionalism and responsibility.

According to Dr. Ismail Halilit, the Eye Center at the American Hospital has success fully engaged in the most difficult surgery procedures, such as that involving the cataract and retina and has used the most up-to-date methodologies and equipment for the vision correction treatment by Lasik/Lasek.

Likewise,it is since two months that such a center has performed many successfulvitreo-retinal interventions among local and foreign patients.

Prof.Dr. Ahmet Maden says he is quite happy that such medical advanced technology,especially the eye-related one, is now so close to the Albanian patients.

“I am happy to collaborate with the ophthalmologic center at the American Hospital, together with a staff of six professional and trained doctors. Here,we perform interventions that are quite recent in the field of ophthalmology,such as vitreous-retinal transplants, surgery of the retina and other traumas of the posterior chamber of the eye.”[:]

[:en]06 April 2012 THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL IN KOSOVO OPENS ITS DOORS

Founded in 2006, the American Hospital marked the first cornerstone of the private hospital service in Albania. The hospital started work with a team of 72 medical doctors, nurses and workers graduated or trained in Albania, Europe, Turkey and the United States and it counts now 700 workers who show greater experience and commitment.

In its early activities the Hospital focused on patients with cardiac issues from across Albania and the region. Currently, the hospital counts 2,300 patients who have been undergoing successful heart surgery treatment.

Three years ago, in March 2008, the American Hospital increased the range of its services through the establishment of a polyclinic with 24 specialties which has assisted more than 120,000 patients until early 2012. The increased number of specialties enabled the Hospital to build new cooperation bridges with prestigious universities in the field of medicine, such as AKAHA in Vienna, Ankara University and others that proved useful in exchanging both professional and academic experience.

By November 2009, the American Medical Center in Fier was added to the group, whereas by February 2010, another such American Medical Center was established in Durres. Based in two of the biggest cities of Albania, both centers have served as a reference in terms of medical diagnosis and imagery and have further contributed to reduce the burden of patients under hemodialysis, who now receive such service closer to their places of residence.

March 2011 marked the opening of the American Hospital 2, the biggest investment of the group’s shareholders in Albania. The American Hospital 2 has focused its activity in pregnancy and birth, gynecological surgery, general surgery, orthopedics, urology and plastic surgery. These, however, are not the only fields of activity. One of the biggest advantages, which makes also a significant part of the new investment, is the Reproductive Health and InVitro Fertilization Center that is equipped with the first and only Andrology-Embryology Laboratory in Albania.

And we do not stop here… After providing distant services to thousands of Kosovo patients, time came to be present in Kosovo as well, with a well-equipped hospital facility, since March 2012.

06 April 2012 THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL IN KOSOVO OPENS ITS DOORS

The newest serious and very important investment of the American Hospital is the American Hospital facility in Prishtina, Kosovo.

The facility is located in Prishtina’s suburb, Hajvali. The four-storey building has been built on an area of 3000 m2 and counts 30 beds, 3 surgery theatres, 2 delivery rooms, 2 suite rooms (VIP) and the most advanced medical equipment that will be to the service of patients. The Prishtina-based American Hospital is a general medical facility that provides most of its services on a 24/7 basis, including Surgery, Orthopedics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatrics and Neonatology, Urology, ORL, Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery 24h ER, as well as all the supporting services (laboratory, imagery, pathology etc). The hospital has a staff of 100 local and international specialized medical workers who try  to offer high-quality health services focused on the patient’s health and well-being by making use of the most advanced medical technology and international medical protocols,.

The American Hospital of Kosovo is part of the American Hospitals network that has been successfully operating in Albania since five years and has offered treatment to many citizens from Kosovo.

Kosovo’s American Hospital is an investment of the Bed minster Capital Management Fund, which is a New York-based investment fund that includes the Government of the United States of America represented by the Overseas Private Investments Corporation (OPIC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and various private US citizens.

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL

JANUARY 2007 – TO DATE

285,000 registered patients

10,200 in-house patients

40 mln € investment

26 departments

130 beds

28 reanimation beds

700 workers

20,000 m² of surface area

8 surgery theaters

12 suite rooms

64 hemodialysis beds

24-hour emergency service

4 ambulances

1 air-ambulance duty helicopter[:]

[:en]What are stem cells?

The human body contains more than 200 types of mature cells, each of which hasa distinct and specialized function. Whether they are heart muscle cells thatbeat rhythmically or red blood cells that deliver oxygen to all the parts ofthe body, all these specialized “working cells” have a specific role to play.

Stem cells are quite different from our working mature cells, as they not onlyhave an impressive ability to self-renewal but also to replenish new tissuewhen they divide and grow. The discovery of stem cells has been one of the mostexcellent achievements of modern medicine. Stem cells play a fundamental rolein the post-conception development stage of the human body.  Their ability to produce various types of specialized cells makes them unique and powerful for the medical therapy that will follow in the during life.

Cryo- Save, our trusted partner!

On basis of an agreement between the American Hospital and Cryo-Save, theformer provides a specialized service in the field of Obstetrics –Gynecology.

A leading stem cell bank in Europe, Cryo-Save is a seal of guarantee for its “CryoCord”services and offers the highest quality standards in terms of transport,preparation and safety of the stored umbilical cord blood of your child.

Why choose Cryo –Save?

– Very close to you. Founded in 2000 and based in the Netherlands, the company operates in 43 countries across three continents (Europe, Asia and Africa) and it has finally come to Albania.

– Focus on quality. Cryo-Save guarantees the highest quality standards in terms of transport, preparation and safety of the deposited umbilical cord blood of your child.

– Medical expertise. Thanks to a network of dedicated medical experts who support this activity and with the strong belief that umbilical cord blood stemcells will give a significant boost to the treatment of an increasing number of diseases in the near future.

– International accreditation and certification. Cryo-Save with its laboratories has to meet or exceed the applicable legal standards at the national level in this industry which is subject to strong legal regulations.

– Favorable prices. Thanks to an agreement with the American Hospital, you may benefit now from the storage of the umbilical cord blood of your child at highly favorable prices. For more information, you can contact us at the telephone number 042366663 – Gynecology and Obstetrics Department.[:]

[:en]Tirana 15 December 2011

In December 2006, THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL opened its doors with an ambitious promise and high responsibility: diagnose and treat Albanian patients with the highest standards of modern medicine.

This wise, well-considered and highly ambitious investment focused initially on the cardiology and cardiac surgery. The American Hospital patients’ carestarted from the heart. The performance for the first time of thecoronarography and revascularization of coronary artery procedures marked oneof the indisputable achievements of the cardiac surgery team. Since 5 years,every type of cardiopathy, including congenital failures of the valve system, the aorta and bypass surgeries, ascending aorta, the carotid and femoral arteries, has been successfully treated by the talented team of Prof. Neyyir Tuncay Eren and his collaborators.

Today, after an intensive work of five years, the American Hospital, located in an area of 17,000 m2, has not only been recognized as the first and most outstanding private health institution, but also as the place where many challenges of the modern medicine have been addressed for the first time.

On the eve of its first anniversary, the American Hospital took the next challenge for the Albanian medicine – the kidney transplant. Currently,the hospital counts a number of 55 successful transplants conducted by our team of surgeons and three hemodialysis centers of 55 beds, being, thus, the only medical facility focused on the treatment of patients with renal insufficiency.

In May 2009, the American Hospitals Group expanded with the Fier American Medical Center and,by February 2010, Durres American Medical Center was established. These two medical facilities that are located in two of the country’s main cities not only serve as reference centers of diagnostics and imagery, but they have also reduced significantly the burden of patients with hemodialysis, who can benefit from this service closer to their places of residence.

The Central Laboratory, which has the widest range of laboratory tests conducted in Albania up to now, is one of the key contributors to the five-year success of this hospital. Counting more than 760 biochemical, microbiologic, immunology, histopathology laboratory test, etc., the American Hospital laboratory is the first and only facility of its kind that has been certified with the highest standard in this field: ISO 15189.

The Ophthalmology Center is another serious investment by the American Hospital that offers to all the patients in the region treatment with laser refractive surgery and addresses problems of the cataract, glaucoma,retina etc. A front runner in all the eye treatments for children and adults, thanks to its professional team, this is the only center that undertakes the cornea transplant in the country.

The Advanced Imagery Center has played a particular role in the diagnostic and research activity of the medical experts of the American Hospital. Thanks to its latest equipment which is unique in Albania and the region and to its 24-hour service, this center enables accurate diagnosis within the shortest time possible, providing particular support to the oncology, surgery and orthopedics teams, etc.

The fruitful collaboration between the medical team of the American Hospitaland Vienna University by November 2009 made a reality of the dream of manychildren with permanent hearing failure. The Cochlear Implant, supportedby the Ministry of Health, has been successfully carried out on dozens ofchildren of different age groups, who have now acquired their hearing abilitiesand are a normal part of society.

At least 650 workers and 24 departments offer their services 24 hours a day in 8 surgery theaters and with 130 beds. A highly active ER service of both Tirana-based hospitals has treated thous and patients in years, who now consider the American Hospital as the right door to knock on for cardiac, pediatric, orthopedic emergencies, and beyond.

The continuous expansion of the American Hospitals Group marked a new milestone with its newest and most ambitious investment of March 2011: the second hospital in Tirana.

The entirely new building raised on an area of 6000 m2 is the biggestinvestment of the shareholders of Bedminster – Allajbeu Group. Certified forits quality management since its first steps, the American Hospital 2 hasfocused its activity mainly on pregnancy and birth, pediatrics, neonatology,gynecologic surgery, orthopedics, urology and plastic surgery. And this is noteverything… One of our strongest achievements and a significant part of the new investment is the Reproductive and In-Vitro Fertilization Center, which has the first and only Andrology-Embryology Laboratory in Albania of these dimensions and with such a modern technological support.

And we do not stop here… After treating thousands of Kosovo patients in distance, time has come to be present in Kosovo with a well-equipped hospital facility that will open doors in the first months of 2012.

Today, after five years, the hospital counts 115,000 registered patients and we try to hear their voice and meet their demands one by one.

The high number of patients, the trust and hope they have placed in our hospital, says a lot about us. It says a lot of the reputation that has beenbuilt in five years of activity by a hard-working team. It says a lot about the expectations we have to live up to everyday in order to justify the trust of those who have chosen us.

Being a leader that sets standards at a national scale and beyond means you have to meet the needs of every and each patient and provide them with the most efficient system and technology that support our professional staff. It also means that we always have to be step ahead and never cease to improve and advance medicine through research and education.

American Hospital staff members continuously work to improve the quality of our care. It is the quality of our staff and the technology of the highest standards that ultimately makes the difference in our care.

Facts and figures of the American Hospital:

115,000 patients

4 hospitals

an investment worth Euro 40 million

24 departments

facilities on an area of 17,000 m2

655 workers in Tirana, Durres, Fier

8300 surgical procedures

130 beds

8 surgery theaters[:]

[:sq]TIRANE – Është organizuar sot në Tiranë Kongresi i parë Multidisplinor Mjekësor Ndërkombëtar nga Spitali Amerikan. Kongresi me temën “Edukimi në vazhdim përmes profesionistëve të mjekësisë” është i pari i këtij dimensioni në specifikën e vet dhe ka një përfshirje mbarëbotërore, duke sjellë në Tiranë figura të shquara të shëndetësisë nga specialitete të ndryshme të mjekësisë botërore. Lindita Shosha, Presidente e Internacional Medical Congres Albania, u shpreh se është një çast shumë i rëndësishëm për mjekësinë shqiptare. “Ky kongres, zhvillohet për herë të parë nga Spitali Amerikan. Misioni kryesor është që ne, çdo ditë e më tepër të jemi pranë njerëzve që na kanë nevojë. Sot ky kongres është një shprehje shumë e mirë e këtij bashkëpunimi, përmbledh mjekë nga të gjitha spitalet, nga të gjitha institucionet nga vendi dhe nga bota. Ne të gjithë së bashku sot do të jemi me njëri-tjetrin në një event ku të tregojmë dhe të marrim,” – tha Shosha. Ministri Ilir Beqaj, i pranishëm në konferencë, tha se të tilla nisma duhet të ishin marrë më herët. “Unë që kam marrë përsipër të bëj detyrën e Ministrit të Shëndetësisë, e shikoj ofertën e shërbimit shëndetësor si një të vetme. Shumica dërmuese e shërbimit jepet nga specialistë shqiptar, nga profesionistë të shëndetësisë shqiptare që do të thotë që ka akoma më shumë hapësirë për sinergji. Eshtë tamam momenti kur ne po vlerësojmë eksperiencën 5 vjeçare 2010-2014 të ciklit të edukimit në vazhdim, po analizojmë atë dhe është momenti kur po ndërtojmë ciklin e ardhshëm dhe unë besojë se çfarë do të jetë sot, do të jetë përsëri një vlerë e shtuar” – u shpreh Beqaj. Figura të shquara të mjekësisë në Shqipëri dhe Kosovë u nderuan në këtë kongres me certifikata të mirënjohjes për arritje dhe kontribute ndër vite, përgatitjen e brezave të rinj të mjekëve si dhe dedikimin e jetës së tyre në shërbim të pacientëve dhe vlerave humane që mishëron mjeku profesionist. Ky kongres është një mundësi e mirë që mjekët pjesëmarrës të mund të përftojnë 20 kredite përgjatë harkut kohor të dy ditëve që zgjat kongresi multidisiplinar.

[:sq]Për herë të parë në Shqipëri u zhvillua Kongresi Multidisiplinar Mjekësor Ndërkombëtar me temë “Edukimi në Vazhdim përmes Profesionistëve të Mjekësisë” organizuar nga Spitali Amerikan.

Në këtë event u diskutuan mbi 12 seksione klinike me fokuse të mirëpërcaktuara mbi arritjet më bashkëkohore në mjekësinë moderne.

Ky event, i pari i këtij dimensioni në specifikën e vet dhe me një përfshirje mbarë botërore, solli në Tiranë figura të shquara dhe eminenca të shëndetësisë nga specilitete të ndryshme të mjekësisë botërore.

Mbi 45 lektorë të huaj dhe shqiptarë nderuan me pjesëmarjen e tyre këtë event të rëndësishëm, ndërmjet të cilëve Prof. Dr. Philip Caushaj (SHBA),Prof. Dr. Felice Giangasparo (ITALI), Prof. Dr. Ethem Beskonakli (TURQI), Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rosendahl (BRITANI E MADHE), Prof. Dr. Josef Besik (ÇEKI), Prof. Dr. Jurgen Ennker (GJERMANI), Prof Dr Neyir Eren (TURQI), Prof. Dr. Marco Jaccobbi (ITALI), Prof. Dr. Venanzio Valenzia (ITALI), Prof. Dr. Sadik Ersoz (TURQI), Prof. Dr. Ugo de Santis (ITALI), Prof. Dr. Claus Boheim (AUSTRIA) e shumë të tjerë.

Në këtë event u nderuan me Certifikata të Mirënjohjes, figura të shquara të mjekësisë në Shqipëri dhe Kosovë për arritje dhe kontribute ndër vite, përgatitjen e brezave të rinj të mjekëve, dedikimin e jetës së tyre në shërbim të pacientëve dhe vlerave humane që mishëron mjeku profesionist.

Mbi 500 mjekë të specialiteteve të ndryshme nga Shqipëria, Kosova dhe Maqedonia morën pjesë dhe kontriubuan në shkëmbimin e eksperiencave dhe njohurive mjekësore, inkurajimin e njëri- tjetrit në përpjekjen tonë të përbashkët për të luftuar sëmundjen dhe për të shpëtuar jetë, duke e shndëruar këtë event në një Kongres mbarëshqiptar.

Spitali Amerikan operon sukesesshëm prej nëntë vitesh duke pasur gjithmonë në rend të parë shëndetin e pacientëve anembanë trevave Shqipëtare. SpitaliAmerikan është një investim Shqiptaro-Amerikan i fondit Bedminster Capital Management dhe synon ofrimin e shërbimeve cilësore shëndetësore përmes personelit profesional të përzgjedhur vendor dhe ndërkombëtar, mbështetur fuqishëm nga teknologjia më moderne në fushën e mjekësisë.