Eleven years since Nikos Kourkoulos passed away and one year since the One Day Clinic "Nikos Kourkoulos" started to operate, a tribute event was held at the hospital facilities, attended by Mrs. Marianna Latsis, Mrs. Erietta Kourkoulou-Latsis, Minister of State Mr. Alekos Flampouraris and many friends, employees and patients.

The event was welcomed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Anti-Cancer / Oncology Hospital of Athens "Aghios Savvas", Mr. Georgios Dendramis, the head of the breast clinic, Mr. Evangelos Filopoulos and the head of the anesthesiology department of the One Day Clinic “Nikos Kourkoulos", Mrs. Evnomia Vrachnou.

Mrs. Marianna Latsis expressed her gratitude for the fact that the One Day Clinic "Nikos Kourkoulos" is fully operational, fulfilling the purpose of her personal donation in the memory of Nikos Kourkoulos, and warmly thanked all those who contributed to this effort, stating that she will continue to stand by their side.

A historical review of the project and the activities on the day clinic’s first year of operation were presented at the event. The One Day Clinic "Nikos Kourkoulos" is a model institute in Greece and one of the best day care centers in Europe. Between January 30th and December 31st, 2017, the following procedures took place at the hospital:

• 15,397 treatments (an average of 1,283 treatments per month and 72 per day).
• 2,129 surgical procedures with zero mortality and only 4 overnight stays at the central building of Aghios Savvas General Hospital (average of 9 operations with local and general anesthesia per day and 173 per month).
• 5,410 radiotherapy sessions for 283 patients, 23 of which were whole body treatments for patients to undergo bone marrow transplantation.
• 12,000 mammograms.
• 5,300 sonograms.
• 3,700 blood tests at the Pathology and Surgical Sector.
• 1,750 cardiac examinations as pre-operative checks for patient hospitalisation at the Day Care Unit of the Surgical Department.

Since mid 2017, a Pain Management clinic operates at the One Day Clinic "Nikos Kourkoulos", aiming to offer pain relieving care to patients. Also, 13 residents and 6 nurses were trained and specialised at the hospital last year, in cooperation with the 2nd University Anesthesiology Clinic and the Nursing Department of the University of Athens.

In a moving moment during the event, three patients intervened to present the qualitative characteristics of the health services provided. It should be noted that, based on a patients’ satisfaction survey in the day care unit of the hospital’s surgical department, 93% reported that their hospitalisation was excellent.

Information about the One Day Clinic "Nikos Kourkoulos"

The Clinic has 6 floors, a ground floor and 3 basements. It covers a total area of ​​4,000 m2, has a 45-bed capacity and is an integral department of the Aghios Savvas General Hospital of Athens. It is housed in the former 6th Oncology Hospital of the Social Security Institute (located at Asopiou and Paraschou St., near Alexandras Avenue) which, funded by Mrs. Marianna Latsis, was fully reconstructed and equipped according to the international standards for modern care centres. The purpose was to improve hospital treatment conditions and optimise the efficiency of the medical and nursing staff.

In this model day care centre, patients undergo chemotherapy or surgery and are discharged on the same day. The centre has 3 operating rooms and a 45-bed capacity, of which 26 beds for oncology patients of the pathology department who require chemotherapy and 19 for patients of the surgical department.

By offering a well-organised and equipped human environment for the provision of high-quality health services, the One Day Clinic "Nikos Kourkoulos" can serve as a model for other similar initiatives that should improve quality of care at reduced cost. It also contributes to the functional improvement and decongestion of "Aghios Savvas" Hospital, since operating rooms are freed for other procedures, reducing the waiting time of hospitalised patients.

The hospital includes the following departments and units:

• Post operative short-term hospitalization
• Mammotome unit
• Short-term hospitalisation – pathology department
• Cytostatic drugs unit
• Department of hospitalisation check, for the preoperative checks of surgical patients and the evaluation of pathology department patients
• Radiology department
• Breast diagnostics department
• Biopathology laboratories
• Radiotherapy department
• Pain management department

The institution of day hospitalisation is widespread in most countries; unfortunately, Greece is still behind in this field. Based on international experience, the operation of day care centers greatly improves the quality of the health services provided and is one of the most effective ways to rationalise the costs and properly utilise human and other resources in the health sector. It offers a state-of-the-art environment of international standards, perfectly organised and equipped in order to provide high quality health services.