St. Istvan Hospital Burn Center Project

St. Istvan (St. Steven) Hospital is located in Budapest, Hungary. It is strategic in both location and the scope of care it provides as a regional hospital. This 800 bed hospital complex is comprised of many departments including the Burn Center. The Burn Center provides care for those in the mid-Hungary region, but it also is the location where all critical adult burn patients throughout Hungary are brought.

The hospital is in a very critical situation. In the midst of budgetary problems from a weak Hungarian economy, St. Istvan now has to absorb the patients and medical needs of another nearby hospital forced to limit its care within this large city. Despite the difficult and seemingly hopeless conditions the medical personnel continue to persevere for the care of their patients. They maintain the importance of a clean environment and are personally committed to this cause. Recently the doctors took a collection from within their ranks to raise money for painting the rooms and hallways. They then went on to do the work themselves. This is representative of the level of care they desire to provide.

Unfortunately they lack the means to purchase the necessary equipment needed for a regional burn center. With only four working patient monitors, two functioning anesthesia machines, one fluidization bed, and two ventilators, they endeavor to provide the care that is expected of them. There is little hope that the government will be able to provide additional funding in the future and so it is imperative that the hospital receive assistance from other sources.

Project Scope

The project will include the donation and installation of medical equipment to the hospital and a training program to teach hospital personnel how to properly use and maintain the equipment. The medical team from Assist International will include volunteer nurses and biomedical engineers who will install the equipment and provide 3-4 days of training.
All equipment will be warranted by Assist International for one year.

Project Equipment

6 – Cardiac Monitors on Roll Stands as follows.

4 Step Down Monitors w/ ECG, NBP, SpO2 (Dinamap Pro 1000)

2 Full Parameter Monitors w/ECG, NBP, SpO2, IBP, Temp, CO, CO2 (DASH 3000/4000)

2 – Defibrillators - The hospital has only one defibrillator and it remains on the 2nd floor ICU. In the event of an emergency on the ground or first floors they have to secure this machine from the storage room in ICU. Two additional defibrillators will allow one per floor.

1 – Ultrasound Machine w/general surface probe - The hospital has to transport burn patients to the diagnostic building for an ultrasound scan subjecting them to infection from one building to the next.

2 – Ventilators

6 – Infusion Pumps

1 – Anesthesia Machine - There are only two operational anesthesia machines leaving the hospital unable to sedate all patients when changing dressing or providing treatment. This also means they are unable to change the dressing as often as necessary due to the limited access to these machines. Must have EU Specs; cylinders and fittings must be universal or adaptable to EU standards

1 – Hill Rom Fluidization Bed

General Supplies (gauze, bandages, sterile items, disposable gloves, etc.)