AZ Jan Palfijn Gent is a general public hospital located in Ghent, Belgium, with a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. The hospital offers a wide range of medical services and specialties, including both general and specialized care. It has 526 beds and employs over 1,000 healthcare professionals, ensuring comprehensive patient care.

The hospital underwent significant renovations between 2012 and 2014 to modernize its facilities and improve its capacity to provide high-quality, future-oriented healthcare. The institution emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach in various treatments, including obesity management through its specialized Weight Management Centre, led by experts like Dr. Veerle Van Vlodrop, a gastrointestinal surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery.

AZ Jan Palfijn Gent is committed to offering both generic and specialized medical services, focusing on delivering warm, high-quality care to all its patients. The hospital also actively participates in community health initiatives and collaborates with other healthcare institutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its services.

AZ Jan Palfijn in Ghent offers a range of specialized services to cater to diverse medical needs. Some of the key specialized services include:

1. Trauma Care: The hospital is well-known for its exceptional trauma care services, providing critical care to patients with severe injuries and emergencies. It is a trusted institution for trauma care in the region, supported by a dedicated team of medical experts and state-of-the-art facilities​​.

2. Obesity Treatment: The Centrum Gewichtszorg (Weight Management Center) at AZ Jan Palfijn specializes in obesity treatments. This multidisciplinary center focuses on comprehensive care for patients dealing with obesity, including bariatric surgery led by specialists like Dr. Veerle Van Vlodrop. The center emphasizes a holistic approach to obesity, offering extensive patient care and follow-up before and after treatment​.

3. Cardio-Pulmonary Services: The hospital provides specialized services for patients with cardio-pulmonary disorders, ensuring comprehensive care and management for heart and lung conditions​.

4. General and Specialized Care: Apart from its specialized services, AZ Jan Palfijn also offers general medical care across various disciplines. The hospital employs over 1,000 staff members, including more than 140 doctors, and has 526 authorized beds, making it a significant healthcare provider in the region​.

These specialized services reflect the hospital's commitment to providing high-quality medical care and addressing complex health issues with a multidisciplinary approach.

AZ Jan Palfijn in Ghent is a highly regarded hospital known for its commitment to quality care and continuous improvement in medical services. The hospital has implemented several advanced technologies and innovative practices to enhance patient care and operational efficiency.

One notable improvement is the adoption of SpeechReport and SpeechReport Cursor for digital dictation and speech recognition. This technology has significantly streamlined the workflow for doctors, reducing the time required to create and process medical reports, thereby improving the accuracy and quality of these reports. This digital transition has replaced outdated methods like tapes and classic dictaphones, leading to more efficient and accurate documentation processes​​.

In addition to technological advancements, AZ Jan Palfijn has focused on integrating advanced medical equipment to ensure high standards in patient care. The hospital uses Miele Professional’s sterilization and disinfection systems in its Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), ensuring that all medical instruments meet the highest standards of cleanliness and safety​​.

The hospital has also embraced innovative solutions for patient monitoring. The introduction of mobile care stations equipped with integrated vital signs monitors has improved the speed, quality, and safety of the care process. These stations allow nurses to efficiently measure and record vital signs directly into the Electronic Health Record (EHR), reducing the risk of errors and enhancing overall workflow efficiency​.

AZ Jan Palfijn Gent is a general public hospital with a long history dating back to the Middle Ages, reflecting its significant role in the regional healthcare landscape of Ghent, Belgium. The hospital's strategic direction and purpose are centered around providing high-quality, accessible healthcare services to the community. It is equipped with 526 beds and employs over 1,000 staff members, including 140 doctors, who offer both general and specialized medical care.

The hospital's strategic objectives include:

1. Innovation and Modernization: AZ Jan Palfijn Gent has undergone extensive renovations and technological upgrades between 2012 and 2014 to become a high-performance, future-oriented healthcare institution. This includes the implementation of advanced digital dictation and speech recognition systems to streamline medical reporting and improve efficiency​​.

2. Multidisciplinary Approach: The hospital emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, particularly in specialized centers such as the Weight Management Centre. This center employs a team of experts to provide comprehensive obesity treatment plans, underscoring the hospital's commitment to addressing complex health issues through collaborative efforts​​.

3. Community-Oriented Care: Named after the pioneer Jan Palfijn, the hospital continues to uphold his principles of knowledge exchange and community service. The hospital aims to provide comprehensive care that meets the needs of the local population, ensuring that both basic and cutting-edge medical services are accessible to all​.

By focusing on these strategic areas, AZ Jan Palfijn Gent strives to maintain its status as a key healthcare provider in the region, dedicated to improving patient outcomes through innovation, specialization, and a strong community focus.

AZ Jan Palfijn Hospital in Ghent, Belgium, has received recognition for its efforts in various domains, particularly in digital innovation and quality patient care.

1. Digital Innovation: The hospital transitioned from analogue to digital dictation, significantly improving the efficiency and quality of medical reports. The implementation of advanced speech recognition technology allows doctors to dictate directly into electronic patient records, reducing turnaround times and enhancing report accuracy​.

2. Quality and Patient Care: AZ Jan Palfijn is known for its high standards in patient care, particularly in specialties such as reproductive medicine and robotic surgery. The hospital's commitment to quality is also evident in its use of state-of-the-art sterilization equipment from Miele Professional, ensuring top-notch hygiene and safety in medical instrument reprocessing​.

3. Leadership and Strategic Initiatives: Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Manu Malbrain, the hospital launched several innovative projects aimed at improving clinical leadership and patient care. These initiatives have contributed to the hospital's reputation as a forward-thinking institution in the healthcare sector​ (Fluid Academy)​.