The first Samsung SONO School in the country is no ordinary school. The training provided by the school is backed by powerful ultrasound equipment that feature, among others, touchscreen and wireless technologies to help doctors in the Philippines improve skills related to pre-natal ultrasounds.
The school was opened this week by Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO), working in partnership with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and the PGH Medical Foundation, Inc. (PGHMFI).
“The Samsung SONO School aims to provide doctors with quality training in ultrasound to enhance their diagnostic skills,” said Samsung President Chung Lyong Lee. “We hope the school’s focus on education and training for medical practitioners will benefit the healthcare sector and go some way to improving lives.”
Powerful technology
To improve the learning experience, Samsung has provided dedicated medical equipment such as the Samsung Medison Accuvix A30 Ultrasound Machine, the Samsung Portable Ultrasound MySono U6 and the Samsung Medison UGEO WS80A.
The Samsung Portable Ultrasound MySono U6 is a lightweight portable ultrasound machine. It features Dynamic MR+2.0, a powerful software that improves the contrast resolution of ultrasound images, enabling you to see subtle differences in tissue.
It also features a 15-inch High-Resolution Color LED Monitor, integrated HDD (500GB), and offers wired and wireless LAN Support.
The Samsung Medison Accuvix A30 Ultrasound Machine offers a distinct 21.5″ full HD LED monitor on an ultrasound device to display the new imaging standards. It also boasts of enhanced 3D/4D imaging technologies.
Finally, the Samsung Medison WS80A offers enhanced vision for diagnostic accuracy; intuitive 5D automated reproducible technology; 21.5 LED Monitor; and a 10.1″ Touch Screen.
Targeted training
The Samsung SONO School features a training curriculum for up to 300 doctors yearly, across the Philippines that will result in a Continuing Medical Education accreditation. Comprising of 25 doctor-trainees per session, the program features a combination of lectures and hands-on sessions.
Developed by the Philippine General Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the curriculum offers targeted training in Point of Care, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, allowing doctors to enhance their skills, particularly in the area of pre-natal ultrasounds.
PGH Director Jose C. Gonzales said, “We are excited to be partnering with Samsung in this very meaningful program, leveraging our proven track record in training programs based on medical simulation to provide valuable learning experiences to doctors.”
The Samsung SONO School is located at the Philippine General Hospital, where doctor-trainees can benefit from the dedicated spaces for theoretical and hands-on sessions. Doctor-professors from the College of Medicine of the Philippines – Manila (UP Manila) will conduct the training.
Regular internal reviews will be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the program. Trainees can send samples of their ultrasounds by email to their trainers so the trainers can critique their techniques.
Ongoing training
Medical practitioners – also including nurses and nurse practitioners – are key stakeholders in healthcare. For instance, they are also responsible for prescribing of opioids and compassionately meeting the needs of patients in pain. Ongoing training is, therefore, necessary, which is what not only Samsung SONO School intends to do; but also the likes of the Opioid Education Hub that is dedicated to the educational needs of nursing health care providers – e.g. providing opioid CE for nurses.
In the end, frontline health care providers must be always given patient education to ensure best practices for patient care.
