Collaboration is vital to VU University Medical Center's roles as a university center of excellence and expertise, and as a hospital. At VU University Medical Center, the concept of network development involves the establishment of collaborative relationships with other organizations providing care, research, training and educational programs. To this end, VU University Medical Center participates in a regional training network, a regional trauma center, various centers of expertise, and -respected -'research schools'.

OZON

Organized under the Dutch acronym OZON, eleven hospitals - including VU University Medical Center - have taken collective responsibility for training medical specialists in the region. The purpose of this network is to reinforce the cohesion between the various hospitals in the fields of research, patient care, educational programs and training. VU University Medical Center is strategically appointing professors to train senior house officers. These professors are consulting physicians, employed at general hospitals, whose professorial appointment at VU University Medical Center is for a limited number of hours.

Regional trauma center

VU University Medical Center and the Academic Medical Center (AMC) have joined forces to create the North-West Netherlands regional trauma center. This center is responsible for the deployment of a Mobile Medical Team, which is geared towards the treatment of seriously injured patients at the accident scene. A trauma helicopter, which is vital to the work of the Mobile Medical Team, is stationed on the roof of VU University Medical Center. The trauma helicopter rapidly conveys the Mobile Medical Team to the scenes of accidents, so that the injured receive treatment as soon as possible. This procedure increases such patient's chances of survival.

FOTO: Niek van Doornik, referring GP
"Our practice is 'just round the corner. That's why I am always inclined to refer patients to VUmc. Over the years I have become more critical in this regard, largely on the basis of my personal experience and that of my patients. So I don't refer everyone to VU University Medical Center. For some time now, our general practice has been affiliated with VU University Medical Center's 'core network', which can have benefits in terms of our collaboration. Our continuing discussion with the Accident and Emergency department can be very fruitful. So there is plenty to do and lots of perspective!"