IISMETT has completed all pediatric surgical cases referred by ARNAS Civico. The procedures are part of an agreement between the Region of Sicily, Sicilian Regional Health Department, ARNAS Civico, and ISMETT aimed at reducing waiting lists at Di Cristina Children’s Hospital of Palermo.
A dedicated protocol signed on March 29 in the presence of the President of the Region of Sicily, Mr. Renato Schifani, outlined that ISMETT offer surgery to pediatric patients on the abdominal surgery waiting list of Di Cristina Children’s Hospital in Palermo.i.
The last two procedures will be performed in the next few days, due to needs of the patients’ families, by the surgical team led by Dr. Davide Cintorino, Head of the Pediatric Surgery Unit at ISMETT, and will clear the waiting list. “This is quality healthcare, of which we have many examples in Sicily, and it should be always taken as a model,” said the President Schifani. “I am happy the procedures for all children in need were completed faster than expected, thanks to the synergy between the public sector and a private center of excellence. My government continues its efforts to resolve the issue of waiting lists so that all citizens can access treatment within a reasonable time frame.”
The agreement envisaged the end of the program by June 30, 2024 but the collaboration between the hospitals and the Regional Health Department allowed to complete all surgeries before that deadline. “We did everything we could to perform the surgeries on all the children as soon as possible,” said Dr. Cintorino. “All children are in good conditions and have been discharged. It was a positive experience and a joint effort of our Pediatrics team, focusing on the collaboration between the hospitals, with a common goal to offer the best possible care to these young patients.”
“The collaboration between the two hospitals was key to achieve this result,” commented Walter Messina, General Manager of ARNAS Civico. “Two centers of excellence, located in close proximity one to the other, demonstrated that a synergy to offer patient care and to mitigate each other’s challenges are the foundation for a more advanced and accessible healthcare for all citizens.”
