Shaare Zedek head: Hospitals add to innovation
there are four responsibilities that every hospital has, according to yonatan halevy, director general of shaare Zedek medical Center. they cure diseases and save lives; eliminate physical and emotional suffering; train the next generation of medical and paramedical personnel; and contribute to medical research.
speaking at the jerusalem post diplomatic Conference on Wednesday, halevy said that when it comes to the fourth responsibility – medical research – shaare Zedek is at the forefront.
“most modern medical achievements are accomplished through cooperation between universities, the pharmacological industry and hospitals,” he said. and he noted that the hospital, which opened in 1902, established a research center ten years ago that focuses on a combination of clinical and translational research. the center cooperates with hospitals around the world to hold clinical trials and develop new medications and treatments to help cure the sick.
“running a hospital in 2018 is very different than running a hospital in 1902,” said halevy. “this conference is about innovation and hospitals can contribute to innovation in the medical and scientific world.”
though looking to the future, halevy said shaare Zedek must also take care of the here and now.
the hospital is one of the city’s two major trauma units and since it is located in the geographical center of the city of jerusalem, “most of the severely wounded casualties of terror attacks or vehicular accidents are brought to shaare Zedek,” added halevy.
shaare Zedek has 1,000 beds and more than 150,000 visitors to its emergency room each year. “shaare Zedek plays a central role in innovative medicine in the state of Israel,” halevy added.