This week-long Study Tour to Prague and Krakow introduces you to the nuances of medical practice in two distinct healthcare systems. Since the Czech Republic gained its independence within the last 20 years, its healthcare system has undergone has a great degree of decentralization and privatization. Comparatively, Poland, having emerged from the fall of the Soviet Union, is still advancing its healthcare system, making it an interesting case study in innovation. In each destination, you are exposed to a diverse range of visits, which provide you with a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the healthcare system in the region. In Prague, you have the opportunity to visit specialists at a leading hospital, providing you with unique insight into the Czech healthcare system. In Krakow, visit one of the leading university hospitals in Poland to discuss Poland’s approach to universal healthcare provision as well as see examples of their push to modernize equipment to improve medical care.
Through your discussions and visits with healthcare providers, you will gain an understanding of current key issues involved in healthcare, such as demographics and economy; healthcare promotion; allocation of technology, money and resources; organization of and entry into the health system; and patient-doctor relationships.
Tour Objectives
- Compare and contrast medical practice in Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the U.S. to better understand the challenges facing healthcare providers in each country
- Observe examples of clinical practice and research with clinical relevance
- Describe and experience medical practice in a social, historical, and scientific context
Possible Activities
- Discuss the structure of the Czech healthcare system with specialists at local Prague-area hospitals and discuss with healthcare providers at specialist departments at one of Krakow’s largest public hospitals
- Interview locals about their experiences with their health systems in their respective countries
- Tour Auschwitz with a focus on medical history