An International Health Care Initiative: Improving Patient Outcome from Head Injury in Central and Eastern Europe (1999-2001)

This program, supported by an Open Society Institute grant, focused on the implementation of scientific evidence-based head injury treatment Guidelines and documents the efficacy of these protocols through an analysis of outcome. The program started in Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia. In year two it was expanded to the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Education and training of local physicians was followed by collaboration using electronic means, mostly an interactive, internet database. The IGEH followed closely the performance of each center and provided them with a monthly summary of their progress as well as with a list of specific areas in need of attention or improvement. As a teaching tool the database, workshops and symposium increased scientific "Guidelines" compliance from less than 10% to 93%, resulting in significant reduction in mortality as well as severe disability.