ECR 2013.indd - Agfa HealthCare

CENTRO DE ESPECIALIDADES MÉDICAS AMBULATORIAS (CEMA), MAR DEL PLATA, ARGENTINANew diagnostic center strengthenshealthcare network and enables moreeffective care across municipalityCompletely digital approach aligns with government’s aim to evolve towards preventivehealthcareInterviewees Dr. Alejandro Cristaldi, General Manager · Germán Giles, Medical Technology DirectorUnlike other health service models inArgentina, the Centro de EspecialidadesMédicas Ambulatorias (CEMA, Centerof Specialized Ambulatory Medicine)was designed to be completely digital,right from the start. The objective forCEMA was to support the 32 Centersof Primary Healthcare of the GeneralPueyrredón Municipality, along withtwo provincial hospitals. Through itsspecialized diagnostic technology andhealthcare professionals, CEMA servesas a key link between the first andthird levels of the healthcare system,optimizing healthcare in the publicsector.The city of Mar del Plata, Argentina’smost important tourist center, islocated on the Atlantic coast, about400 kilometers south of the capital,Buenos Aires. CEMA, the area's newestand most technologically-advanceddiagnostic center, opened its doorsthere in late 2012. Designed toprovide medium- and high-complexitydiagnostics to inhabitants of the region,CEMA will serve up to 1,500 patientsper day.8 THERE“Our completely digital site isperceived as a benchmark forhealthcare in Latin America.”Dr. Alejandro Cristaldi, General ManagerThis state-of-the-art facility featuresthe latest ecologically-sustainablebuilding materials and systems, andwas funded by Argentina's national andprovincial governments. Dr. AlejandroCristaldi is General Manager of CEMA,and also Undersecretary of MunicipalHealth. "This project, included in themunicipal healthcare system, wasdesigned by mayor Gustavo Pulti,and Dr. Alejandro Ferro, Secretary ofMunicipal Health. We are very pleasedwith the building’s design," he says, ofthe 6,200 square meter, three-storeypurpose-built center. "But I alwayssay that CEMA’s main asset is itsinformatics profile."Shaping the project profileOnce Agfa HealthCare was awardedthe contract, it helped to shape thatproject profile from the earliest stagesof implementation. Local governmentadministrators turned to AgfaHealthCare experts to help define thetechnology and workflow requirements."The local team from Agfa HealthCarewas of inestimable value during theprocess of the project, as they offereddifferent types of specialized knowledgeto help identify the specific needs," saysGermán Giles, Medical TechnologyDirector at CEMA.Most of the examinations performed atCEMA are in the areas of CT, MRI, X-ray,ultrasound, echocardiography, andmammography. Patients are referredby physicians at any of the 32 primaryhealthcare centers in the municipality,which could be up to 30 kilometersaway. Before CEMA, there were onlyfour centers in this system providing