Gargžda Hospital turns a new page of history:

Huge investments are expected in the municipal health center of Klaipėda district, and the range of services will expand

Already on June 1 Gargždai Hospital will be connected with Gargždai Primary Health Care Center. The merged institutions will be called the Public Health Center of the Klaipėda District Municipality. Bringing services closer to the patient, their development and attracting investments – these are the challenges that the hospital’s ambitious administration and medical team are currently facing.
A mobile dispensary visiting the settlements of the district, water therapeutic procedures with a swimming pool, baths – this is just a drop in the sea of ​​what is planned. It is estimated that a third of the premises of Gargždai hospital and Gargždai PSPC will be repaired.
Waiting for private users to join
The director of Gargždai Hospital, Neringa Tarvydienė, assured “Banga” that from June 1. both the hospital and the polyclinic will already function as one institution: “Family doctors, community nurses, specialist doctors will be brought together into one beautiful big family of specialists, nursing services will be integrated from home to hospital. The goal is to provide the highest quality services to the patient, to ensure the services that are provided.”
In the initial plan, it was planned to connect even more institutions, but in the final version it was decided that the Health Center will interact with other institutions on the basis of functional cooperation agreements. Currently, cooperation agreements have been signed between all partners. The partners will be Priekulė PSPC, Paupia PSPC, GvĮ “Gyvenimo gija”, private company “InMedica klinika” and Klaipėda University Hospital and Public Health Office of Klaipėda District Municipality.
“We would very much like other private institutions that provide family doctor services to join the cooperation agreement. We would be waiting for Dituva dispensary, Juritma, and doctor R. Dirginčienė’s office. If the latter institutions would express a desire to cooperate and contribute to common goals, we will certainly accept it”, assured N. Tarvydienė.
A clear package of basic services
There are many changes in the Gargžda hospital. “The time has finally come when we no longer have such an uncertain period. The Gargžda hospital was always in the dark about what services should be provided and what the state’s policy was in relation to it. Now we have nationally approved guidelines, according to which we can clearly see in which direction we should move”, remarked the head of the Gargžda hospital.
According to her, the basic package of services that needs to be developed is approved. There are clear criteria for how many and what services must be provided per year. Not all services have those established criteria, but there are analyzes and strategies that give clarity on how to move forward. “The Klaipėda district municipality has also approved the direction of developing the basic package of services provided by the state,” said N. Tarvydienė. According to her, several large blocks could be singled out: strengthening the family doctor’s services and bringing them closer to the person; consultations of medical specialists; day surgeries; day hospital; provision of nursing services. Each of these blocks has many components, therefore, according to the director of Gargždas hospital, there is a huge amount of work ahead in order to provide more and quality services to the residents.
A strong team is being assembled
A strong team is necessary for ambitious plans to be implemented. Director N. Tarvydienė is happy that with joint efforts we have already managed to attract a number of new doctors: rehabilitation specialist Aistė Luckutė-Berenė, cardiologist Domas Berenė, orthopedist-traumatologist Artūras Stankevičius, there are two surgeons who have come to the Reception Department, doctor Algirdas Laurenčikas works in the Department of Internal Medicine. Galina Lazerčiuk, a doctor from Ukraine, and Algirdas Palšis, a doctor and surgeon, have joined the team of doctors, he not only consults, but will also join the provision of day surgery services. Medical doctor Gintarė Remeikė also started her work, who currently works in the Supportive Treatment and Nursing Department, but will later work as a family doctor in the Veiviržėnai dispensary.
In parallel, the hospital administration team is being strengthened. “There were those who went on a well-deserved rest. We thank them for passing on their knowledge and experience to newly arrived colleagues. Rasa Babilienė, lawyer Aurelija Jansonienė, as well as communication specialist Artūras Bogdanovas, are working as a new head of the farm. He helps to communicate in the field of investment projects, helps to attract funds, submit applications to various funds, Artūras supervises the reorganization process of institutions”, said N. Tarvydienė. She said that the period is coming when the institution can attract investments, so it is necessary to take advantage of all opportunities. Currently, we are still looking for a nursing administrator, the head of the Nursing Department, so those who are interested in these jobs are encouraged to apply, send resumes, call.
The novelty is water therapeutic procedures
A. Bogdanovas pointed out that after attracting investments (the Klaipėda district municipality submits an application as a founder to EU funds), one third of the premises of the Gargžda hospital and the Gargžda PSPC will be repaired. The contribution of the municipality of Klaipėda district is also expected.
The total investment amounts to over 3 million. 728 thousand Eur. Over 1 million is planned for the renovation and expansion of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation section alone. 106 thousand Eur. “Physical medicine and rehabilitation services will be expanded. The repair of the premises of this department and the provision of newly provided services are expected,” the interviewer said.
He was seconded by director N. Tarvydienė: “Only in 2023. we increased the amount of services by 5%, but we can see that the amount of physical therapist, masseur, rehabilitator, and nurses services increased by 7%. The state strategy envisages expanding this area.” 28 percent is recorded. change in physiotherapy procedures, 46 percent. the need for these services for children has increased. Taking into account such statistics, it is planned to use the investments not only to ensure existing services, but also to create a new space – water treatments and therapies will be provided, so there will be swimming pools and bathtubs that can be used by both adults and children. The need for occupational therapist services increased by 44 percent. It is estimated that the services provided by physical medicine and rehabilitation will double. “All those water procedures are not cheap, they are not very profitable for any hospital, but this would be a serious boost in this area, maybe even leading in this area, especially since the services could be used not only by the residents of the district,” said N. Tarvydienė and A. Bogdanov.
The goal is to master day surgery
The repair of the Consultative Diagnostic Department is also planned (over EUR 685 thousand): as the number of specialists increases, so does the need for premises and new equipment. Almost 615 thousand is expected for the purchase of equipment. Eur. It is necessary to update the operating room, cardiologists, eye doctors, gynecological office also need equipment, a sensory room will appear in the Child Development Service. In total, over 2 million is expected for the repair, renovation and equipment of the Gargžda hospital premises 406 thousand EUR investments.
The day surgery department will be located in front of the operating room. A total of 450 different procedures can be performed in day surgery: gynecological, musculoskeletal, skin formations. “We can confidently welcome 5-6 doctors to the team who could work here and provide services. Premises, equipment – everything is there and will be adapted even more”, assured N. Tarvydienė. An overnight stay service will be provided for those patients arriving for multiple procedures or requiring an overnight stay.
According to the director, the department of children’s diseases will transform into a day hospital: “This is required by the state, because the number of patients per year is less than 1,100, and this means that no more funding will be allocated.” But I can assure you that the little patients will get all the help they need. We will focus only on services during the day. Doctors will work, help will be provided, and in the evening, the little patients will be able to go home with their mothers or fathers, so that they can heal in their familiar environment, surrounded by family members.”
In the past, it was a problem that the family doctor could not prescribe medicine for a child in the hospital, for example, due to chronic diseases, but now that gap will no longer exist. In the same way, persons receiving treatment in a day hospital will be able to use various physiotherapy services, salt room procedures, etc.

One reception will remain
Currently, Gargždai Hospital and Gargždai PSPC have two separate receptions, two laboratories, two sterilization rooms, and after the reorganization these things will inevitably be optimized. There will be one spacious reception, one laboratory and one sterilization room. The number of employees is not reduced, because the scope of research does not decrease, 180,000 tests are performed at the Gargžda PSPC alone per year. research. It is at this moment that the information system of the laboratory is being implemented at Gargžda PSPC. The tests will be in the electronic space, and will also be visible on the “eHealth” page to make it more convenient for patients.
Estimated investments in Gargžda PSPC amount to over 1 million. 322 thousand Eur. Considerable funds are needed for equipment, furniture (over EUR 199 thousand), computers (over EUR 138 thousand). The redevelopment of the reception will cost over 134 thousand. EUR, laboratories – over 113 thousand. Eur, sterilizing machines with equipment – over 170 thousand. Eur.
Renovation of the third floor of the Gargžda PSPC is planned (over EUR 212 thousand), the ventilation system there is currently operating with insufficient power, as a result of which both doctors and patients get hot and feel uncomfortable in the summer. The plans also include enlarging the dentists’ offices so that the smallest visitors with their parents do not get crowded, and there would be space for both them and the medical staff. The dispensaries belonging to Gargžda PSPC will also be updated (for EUR 204 thousand).
An innovation planned in the district is a mobile laboratory (over 149,000 EUR) that will travel around the settlements of the district, where research services, bandaging, drug administration, and a cardiogram will be available.
There are many investment projects
This investment package is expected to be implemented by 2027, but both N. Tarvydienė and A. Bogdanovas ensured that all preparatory works and design works are already taking place at full speed, so that there will be no disturbances after that. In addition, the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys, who recently visited the municipality of Klaipėda district, mentioned that there is a great possibility that there will be additional sources of financing for investment projects, so we want to be prepared.
A. Bogdanovas emphasized that other investment projects are being worked on, which are expected to attract funds from the EU. There is an application for home care for mobile teams, as well as for the renovation of the day hospital, Supportive Treatment and Nursing Department, etc. “I’m no longer talking about training, competence development, digitization process,” said the communication specialist. The Reception-emergency post, Department of Internal Medicine will be managed from the internal resources of the hospital.

• Repair of the Consultative Diagnostic Department is planned at Gargžda Hospital (over EUR 685,000): the number of specialists is increasing, so the need for premises and new equipment is also increasing. Almost 615 thousand is expected for the purchase of equipment. Eur. It is necessary to update the operating room, cardiologists, eye doctors, gynecological office also need equipment, a sensory room will appear in the Child Development Service. In total, over 2 million is expected for the repair, renovation and equipment of the Gargžda hospital premises 406 thousand EUR investments.
• The Day Surgery Department of Gargžda Hospital will be located in front of the operating room. A total of 450 different procedures can be performed in day surgery: gynecological, musculoskeletal, skin formations. “We can confidently welcome 5-6 doctors to the team who could work here and provide services. Premises, equipment – everything is and will be even more adapted for high-quality procedures.
• The Children’s Department of Gargžda Hospital will be transformed into a day hospital: patients receiving treatment will be able to use various physiotherapy services, salt room procedures, etc.
• Estimated investments in Gargžda PSPC amount to over 1 million. 322 thousand Eur. Considerable funds are needed for equipment, furniture (over EUR 199 thousand), computers (over EUR 138 thousand). The redevelopment of the reception will cost over 134 thousand. EUR, laboratories – over 113 thousand. Eur, sterilizing machines with equipment – over 170 thousand. Eur.
• Renovation of the third floor of Gargžda PSPC is planned (over EUR 212 thousand).
• This investment package is expected to be implemented by 2027.

Agne ADOMAITĖ
Auth. photo