Graduate programs and OCP academy
There is a great interest in the field of ophthalmology, as it is one of the most dynamic areas of medicine. However, there are still few young doctors, and graduates often face challenges in practical training—both during their studies at the faculty and when starting practice in healthcare facilities. The Eye Centre Prague (OCP) is prepared for young doctors, thanks to graduate programs and its own educational academy.
Currently, the Czech healthcare system is struggling with the inaccessibility of healthcare, particularly due to the aging physician workforce and the low number of young professionals entering the field. There is a significant shortage, especially among general practitioners, pediatricians, and child psychiatrists; however, demographic trends clearly indicate that all specialties, including ophthalmology, are facing this problem.
“In the next two decades, we will find it difficult to make up for the gaps in medical personnel. We can relatively 'quickly' increase the number of medical students and change the education system for doctors. Whether at the faculties, where students complain about the lack of practical medicine, or in healthcare facilities as part of their training program. We need an educational system that will produce doctors who, upon graduating from medical school, will not have to start from scratch in their field, but will be able to work independently,” explains Adam Janek, director of the Eye Centre Prague.
The Eye Centre Prague has been preparing for the provision of accessible eye care in the future for several years. “We have created graduate programs, through which we fill two graduate positions each year,” adds Adam Janek."
Education of young doctors
At the Eye Centre Prague, we perceived education as a significant problem. We encountered the reality that no one was systematically addressing the real guidance and education of doctors. We wanted to change that and therefore began focusing on the continuous education of young doctors. We created our own academy for physicians, providing both practical and theoretical training.
“As part of the educational academy, we organize a variety of educational activities for doctors who have not yet completed their board certification, once or twice a month. These seminars are not official and are not required for certification but are essential for preparing for the basic residency exam and board certification,” explains Dr. Andrea Janeková, who co-responsible for the education of doctors at the Eye Centre Prague, adding: “We focus primarily on practice, and each of the younger colleagues is assigned a mentor. Within the academy, we also monitor innovations in the field of ophthalmology, including regular reports on articles from foreign journals, and we delve deeper into issues because new techniques and trends constantly emerge. An advantage of the academy is that it strengthens the medical team, and young colleagues motivate each other.”
Graduate programs and the educational academy are a significant advantage for young doctors at the Eye Centre Prague. From their former student colleagues, they know that compared to other facilities, this is currently not the standard but rather unique.
“After completing my studies and starting my practice, I didn’t feel entirely confident as a new doctor. At the Eye Centre Prague, I appreciate the opportunity to consult any clinically complex findings or problems with more experienced colleagues at any time,” describes his experience Dr. Milan Vojta, who is part of the OCP graduate program. He sees great value in the regular continued education provided by the OCP academy. Here, new doctors not only learn but also prepare presentations, including their subsequent delivery to other doctors, engage in discussions, and keep up with the latest trends in ophthalmology—covering diagnostics and therapy across all segments of the field. Dr. Vojta also highlights that, in addition to outpatient practice at the clinic, young doctors also work in local MediPort eye clinics, which treat a wide range of patients requiring acute eye care, as well as diagnostics and subsequent referrals to higher facilities. This experience gives young doctors a truly broad scope of practice. “All of this is quite unique. Not every facility has the time to effectively and regularly educate graduates. The goal is not only to prepare us for specialty exams, but all of this is a tremendous advantage for practical work,” adds Dr. Vojta.
Highest level of accreditation
At the beginning of this year, the Eye Centre Prague received the highest level of accreditation from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and became an accredited facility of type III for the field of ophthalmology. Based on this accreditation, the Eye Centre Prague can currently conduct its own specialized training for the specialization in ophthalmology and also provides internships for other healthcare facilities, including regional or university hospitals. The type III accreditation was granted to the Eye Centre Prague due to the comprehensiveness of the care provided, making it the third private facility in the Czech Republic to achieve this status.
