University training and educational programs are of fundamental importance within VU University Medical Center. The key activity is the Doctor of Medicine program. Virtually the entire range of medical specialist continuation courses are taught at VU University Medical Center. These include the classical intramural specialisms as well as extramural specialisms, such as general practice medicine and nursing home medicine. Various clinical specialisms are supported by accredited courses for -further sub-specialization or super-specialization. In addition, VU University Medical Center offers a Master's degree in Oncology and a Master's in Neurosciences. In order to stimulate more students to take up a career as a physician/clinical researcher, a number of students are admitted to the master class each year. What is needed are specialists who continue working and thinking between bed and laboratory. This is an additional program of study, in addition to the obligatory -curriculum. Commencing in the second year, it gives talented students an opportunity to specialize in scientific research.
The specialized nursing continuation courses make up an important part of the range of educational programs on offer. VU University Medical Center has transferred all of its training activities to its own center for training and education, known as the Amstel Academy.
The Amstel Academy provides paramedic training, nursing continuation courses, continuing education and in-service training, as well as business programs for healthcare institutions such as general and university hospitals, nursing and care centers, psychiatric institutions, and home care organizations. Business programmes are intended for staff at all levels, whether or not they are involved in direct patient care.
VU University Medical Center's Doctor of Medicine programme has a competence-oriented curriculum and trains physicians to perform their duties with compassion. This course of study places patients' individual stories at center stage. The importance of this is not simply about discovering the nature of the complaint, it is also to show physicians how they can best relate to patients as individuals. During the Competence with Compassion program, students learn to integrate knowledge, skills and behaviour. In this way, the trainee physicians acquire the skills that they will employ professionally, in the course of their work as a senior house officer.
The Competence with Compassion program is in keeping with the various foundation courses and continuation courses. It is based on the latest developments in educational theory, and produces physicians capable of responding to the demands placed upon them by the dynamic society in which we live.
The Care and Welfare Educational Institute (OZW) houses the care and welfare programmes (at secondary vocational education level (MBO), higher vocational education level (HBO), and university level) provided by the Amstel Academy (VU University Medical Center), InHolland University, the ASA regional training center, and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The parties involved in the OZW want it to make a substantial contribution to the modernization of educational programmes and to easing staff shortages in the care and welfare sector. The focus within the institute is very much on compatibility with in-service training and continuing education, for instance in specialist continuation courses.
FOTO: Louise Vermie, a vascular surgery patient with a chronic condition.
"I'm glad that there is such as place as VUmc, because I could not do without the specialist care that it provides. The only minor criticism that I can think of is, that the timing of the doctor's shifts sometimes means that I have to keep repeating the same information over and over again. On the other hand, this does mean that you are dealing with someone who has a fresh point of view. Which can't be bad."