ER for Adults & ER for Children

Our Team      Photogallery

A brief overviw of the Emergency Department for Adults and Emergency Department for Children

The Emergency Department for Adults and Emergency Department for Children provide acute emergency care for patients with a sudden health disorder. 

Every year about 50.000 adult patients and 33.000 children (from 0 to 18 years of age) arrive at both departments with a number of health conditions that vary in their severity. 

The departments cooperate with a majority of the departments and specialized centers in our hospital. Sometimes we call for the resuscitation service from the Specialized Center of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine and daily request tens or even hundreds of examinations from the Specialized Center of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging. We serve as a link between pre-hospital emergency care and hospital ward care.  

How will your detailed schedule look like? What type of procedures, methods or treatment can you observe? Check what can you see by shadowing every member of the mentoring team.

Is this specialty placement ideal for you?

  • Emergency medicine offers you one huge benefit that other medical specialties cannot - you will see a wide range of patients and conditions that are not specific to one organ or system in the body. You observe various cases every shift and explore the fullness of medicine. Another skill you can learn in the ER is how to be detailed oriented with a capacity to a quick evaluation of facts and decision making. This placement requires you to be very stress resistant and patient at the same time, as most of the patients are transferred to our department in critical conditions and the tempo of our work varies. 
  • The ER specialty placement is a perfect choice for those of you who want to become a paramedic or a doctor in urgent medicine, who stands in the first line and has the first contact with the patients. As we combine the ER in Children and in Adults, you have a chance to compare both of the different approaches as well as various health conditions. 

Let's take a closer look at the specialties…

Patients come to our departments either through the Medical Rescue Service, with their parents or by themselves. As we are alerted to the most severe cases in advance it allows us to prepare properly for any unexpected complications. The biggest benefit of these departments is their systemic purpose. In the past, patients had to go around the hospital searching for doctors. Now, when they come to our departments we take care of everything for them.

If the patients arrive on their own, first they have to visit the reception, where a qualified nurse determines where the patient should be referred – emergency department, traumatology or to the specialized outpatient departments. In more difficult cases, the nurse takes advice from a doctor. The reception runs 24 hours a day and it also serves as a contact place for relatives of the patient. Here, patients can get information about their loved ones and it also acts as a contact place for the medical rescue service.

In case of the Emergency Department for Children, we are the only department of its kind for the whole country and the way how we are organized is a lot similar to the United States, Great Britain or France. We serve as an entrance gate for children with acute health conditions in the whole University hospital in Motol that can be caused by trauma or internal causes. We cooperate closely with the acute pediatric outpatient wards. As our colleagues in the hospital have a unique focus on pediatric specialties, we cooperate with top specialists in the fields of Pediatric Surgery, Orthopedics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Cardiology or Psychiatry as well as with Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging and Anesthesia.

We have at our disposal high-tech equipment for life-threatening cases which comprise around 5% of all patients. In addition to an operating room at ER for Adults, where we can manage even the most severe conditions, we also have a patients’ wards with 27 beds that are equipped just as in ARU. At ER for Children, we have 3 examination beds, 4 beds for observing, 1 box for patient's isolation, 1 detoxication room and 1 OR for smaller procedures. The layout of our departments is like a small hospital within the large University Hospital in Motol.

In emergency situations, the department acts as an organizational center where the reception becomes a communication center for the dispatching of emergency and rescue services and, in addition, has an overview of the beds in intensive care. On-call doctors are also provided by our department.

Who do we take care of?

The ER doesn't cater for patients suffering from trauma caused by accidents. Instead, these patients are referred to the Traumatology Department. The aim of the Emergency Department is to treat patients whose worsening health conditions have suddenly become acute such as a victim of a stroke or a heart attack. Patients brought to the hospital by ambulance and whose condition requires immediate treatment are always given priority.

In other situations, patients are treated according to the severity of their condition.  In the department, our doctors carry out a diagnosis, provide a treatment or suggest further examinations by calling upon a number of interdisciplinary services. They will also decide if a patient needs to be hospitalized and where. Our department takes care of every single patient that requests our help 24/7. 

In children, we deal with the acute cases of internal diseases and trauma (around 6.000 children per year). The trauma cases reach the level of 30%, 25% of our patients are hospitalized in the University Hospital in Motol and 75% of our patients are after the evaluation, diagnostics and acute care provided, released from the hospital accompanied by their parents or relatives. 

Our methods and procedures

Emergency medicine is a very specific area of healthcare where the number one goal is to treat a patient's condition quickly, appropriately and in line with its requirements. By employing a triage method we can assign treatment to a patient according to the urgency of their condition.

Where there is a need to make a quick, crucial decision about a patient's condition we have at our disposal a number of diagnostic procedures such as Ultrasonography, X rays, Computed Tomography( CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In combination with an evaluation of the vital functions by clinical examination and fast laboratory testing, these imaging methods form part of the basic diagnostic procedures in emergency medicine. Furthermore, an inseparable part of our approach is the constant training of doctors and paramedics in the treatment of emergency cases.

The basis of our treatment procedures follows the recommended guidelines for severe injuries such as severe trauma, cerebral stroke, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), gastrointestinal tract bleeding and many more. We cooperate closely with our colleagues in other hospital departments and centers, such as the Specialized Center of Cardiology in cases of ACS, acute myocardial infarction which are treated with percutaneous coronary interventions, Neurology in cases of cerebral strokes treated with thrombolysis, and with surgeons in Traumatology and with the Specialized Center of Neurosurgery and the Specialized Center of Internal Medicine.

How does the usual schedule look like?

  • Both of the ER departments run 24/7 and therefore you might have to work a number of shifts: morning, afternoon, night or even at the weekend. The different shifts will also give you an insight into how emergency medicine can vary throughout the week. Your schedule will change according to your mentors’ schedule. It may also mean that you will be asked to take a long shift with the doctor but, in such cases, you will have the next day off. Bear it in mind that you will spend at least 25 hours in the hospital per week. But the actual number of hours may be higher.

If you are not sure whether this choice is suitable for you, don't hesitate to contact us. We will discuss your experience and motivation and come up with the best solution for you.

Our Team


Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Hana Bartošová

Anesthesiologist

Doctor


I work in the biggest and well-known pediatric hospital in Europe, in the department of pediatric anesthesia and resuscitation care. My patients range from a few hours to near adulthood. It is a very diverse and interesting job that brings me new information and professional experience all the time. Children´s directness and faith, which sometimes must be gained first, are a great example of the interpersonal communication that I thoroughly enjoy.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

It might sound like a cliché but working as a doctor is a real mission for me. Since childhood I just knew I wanted to be a doctor. First I took care of “ill” teddy bears and dolls and attempted to comfort them. During that time I felt more and more that caring for patients and sometimes even fighting for their health and satisfaction was the right thing to do. So far the desire to care for others has fulfilled me. I did not have any role model in my family. I was very interested in information and documents about the rainforest hospital project of Albert Schweitzer in Lambarena in Gabon, western Africa.

Having experience in a real clinical environment can be a precious investment into your future professional life, as you will gain first-hand experience, instead of hearing about it from someone else. It can help you to avoid mistakes in your judgment and on the other hand help you to make successful life choices. During my studies I was very influenced by shadowing 2 doctors and therefore I understand the importance of programs such as the CHP Program and wanted to take part in it as well. I want to help future healthcare professionals make the right choices. I hope you will get a good picture of what the profession entails.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

I am a very energetic and systematic person and I can manage working under pressure and handle the requirements of rigorous work. My job allows me to make use of all of these attributes. What’s interesting about working as a doctor is that it is never over; you face a new challenges, conditions, and states all the time. You need to solve them individually and discover a unique solution for each of your patients.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will see our work with children – from newborns to the children of 18 years of age. But sometimes adult patients are added to a pediatric program. You may see a patient prepared for different types of anesthesia, the introduction and start of anesthesia, and you will learn which drugs are used and what the methods in standard and urgent situations are. You will go through various departments and see the complete range of provided care in surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic methods, including emergency care. You may witness the resuscitation of a patient as some of them are in very severe and therefore life-threatening conditions.

Apart from being a healthcare professional...

Lately my main interests are my 2 grandchildren – Ela and Filip, and also our tomcat. I like to spend time outdoors with my husband and we enjoy traveling. Recently we fulfilled our dream to travel to Norway. I also like reading. Among my favorites are the novels of Agatha Christie, the detective Columbo and sometimes sci-fi movies, such as Avatar. I hate Dr. House, as he knows everything straight awaysmile

My motto…

The use of an own head is not as obvious, as it is considered.

Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Tereza Císlerová

Secondary Doctor

Doctor


I know what it is like to be in your shoes, during the university studies I had the opportunity to participate in an internship abroad and I spent one year in France and two months in Switzerland in different healthcare institutions doing placements in various medical fields. I started to work at the Emergency Department right after graduating from medical school.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

It was quite a coincidence that I ended up studying medical school. I am not a person that would have dreamt about a job from childhood, and among my family members aren't any doctors. Until the last months of high school studies, I didn't even consider medicine as my career choice. I've always liked languages as I spent several years studying in France I thought that I would do something in that direction. However, my plans changed.

I'm delighted, primarily because to me medicine (and in particular the emergency one) is not only about science, but it also means the opportunity to communicate with different people, to develop manual skills and social and psychological skills, too. I learned that the human body is a perfect and very complicated organism, for me is a source of joy and depression at the same time.

The Emergency Department placement is an excellent option for students who want to experience different medical fields, students who wish to see a variety of cases when almost every day there is a surprising one, and also for those of you who want to see more action than paperwork.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

I chose Emergency Medicine for several reasons - I like its variety and the urge for action. I also enjoy the portion of manual skills needed and procedures, just the right one for me, not too much, not too little. I am the first one to think about the diagnosis, sometimes it is obvious, often it is very hidden. Patients may have misleading symptoms, sometimes they are only able to say "I don't feel well" and of course, sometimes they cannot say anything at all. It can be a detective kind of work, and honestly, that's what I love about it. Patients may have problems that fall under almost every clinical medical field, from cardiology to psychiatry, and that's why it never gets boring and also why I will never stop learning.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

At our department, we work twelve hours lasting day and night shifts. I never know if the shift is about to be busy and what kind of problems I have to deal with. Patients can come by themselves, a GP or a specialist can send them, or they can come with paramedics in an ambulance or helicopter. Sometimes there are few patients with a problem you could consider as a banality, and sometimes there are several ambulances bringing patients with such severe health conditions coming to the department at the same time.

Patients may come with quite specific symptoms, for example, chest pain, and in some cases, you have a piece of very vague information like general weakness. We have to make a differential diagnosis and look for underlying health problems. When a patient arrives we will asses his vital functions, take into account the clinical history, examine the patient, and according to our findings, we decide what to do next, what complementary methods might be useful and what the first line treatment should be.

When indicated we have at our almost immediate disposition a variety of methods like "bed-side "blood analysis (POCT testing), X-ray or CT scan. You will meet the consultants from different specialties and experience how to cooperate with various departments when the patient needs urgent hospitalization or surgery.

Apart from being a healthcare professional…

I like sports, especially hiking and spending time outdoors. I also play floorball (a kind of sport that you probably do not know smile) And if I don't have to sing, I like playing piano and guitar.

My motto…

"If one already is, then he should see to it that one be. And when one sees that he be and is, then one must make sure, that one is what he is, and is not what one isn't - as is the case in most cases." (Jan Werich)

Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Jitka Dissou

Head of the Department of Emergency for Children

Doctor


During my studies at the medical faculty, we took part in many internships in various departments, but in the pediatric specialties, I felt absolutely at ease. We saw many severely ill children with their parents but we saw as well the hope that the children patients will be cured of the majority of the diseases. I made up my mind and decided for the pediatric field. After finishing my studies, I started to work at the hospital in Hořovice where after 14 days I already worked in shifts. During that time I was responsible for the department, emergency and also the deliveries. It was a tremendous learning experience where I learned how to take my own decisions and how to find the best solution in a short time. In 2008 I started to work at the Central Inpatient Department for Children in the University Hospital in Motol which was renovated in 2011 and the Department of the Emergency for Children was founded. From this year on, we started to organize and build up step by step the new field of pediatric emergency medicine in the Czech Republic.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

To become a pediatrician was my dream ever since I was five years old. As a child, I was amazed by our pediatric GP to whom I used to go for regular checks and vaccination. She had beautiful long black hair, white coat and she was very helpful and kind. When my grandfather was hospitalized because of diabetes, I draw him a picture of myself as a doctor with the medical suitcase who would help him. My grandpa unfortunately died, but it was even a stronger motivation for me to become a healthcare professional one day. 

Come to our department, Prague is a charming city and University Hospital in Motol is a top-notch hospital facility. And trust me, once you are shadowing our team you will fell in love with our specialty as all of us.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

The pediatric acute medicine is entirely a newly emerged field in the Czech Republic, and it is us at the University Hospital in Motol who have shaped it throughout the years. Generally speaking, the emergency doctor needs to be a professional with rational thinking and a wide range of knowledge in different fields and specialties who can apply it logically and quickly in the everyday work reality. We need to make quick decisions, and we must be organized and lead the team.

Apart from that, I do like the variety of my job and also the adrenaline and immediate action that goes hand in hand. We receive all types of cases, and we have no idea at the beginning of the day how it will look like nor who arrives and needs our care. I am the head of the department for more than a year, and I have a chance to influence more the new methods and approaches we adopt in our care. I am in charge of the education of our staff as well as to support and promote the field of pediatric emergency medicine in congresses and meeting here and abroad.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will see the management and takeovers of the patient from the paramedic rescue service to our department and the immediate actions we need to take as the examinations and tests. At the Department of Emergency for Children, you can see a wide variety of cases and diagnosis of the patients who are a few days old up to the young people at the age of 18 years. You will be able to make conclusions on the differences of taking care of a newborn and adolescent patient including the healthcare professional's approach.

Given to the fact we are a part of the Children Trauma Center, we daily take care of children involved in car accidents, after falls from heights, with a trauma of head, broken limbs, with open wounds, patients who were drowning, bitten by a dog or other animals, after an electric shock. We perform the reposition of dislocated fractures under analgosedation. The examples of internal diagnoses coming in are children in seizures, with loss of consciousness, with fever, collapsing, vomiting, with allergic reactions and various types of rash and abdominal pain. We also take care of intoxicated children, suicidal attempts, with drugs and alcohol use or patients with psychiatric conditions. It is possible that you will see our patients accompanied by police as well. No working day is the same as the previous one.

Apart from being a healthcare professional...

I love traveling and sports activities. I like to play volleyball and squash. I do skiing or skating, too.

My motto…

Live and let live.

Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Tomáš Kopáňko

Secondary Doctor

Doctor


If only there would be any possibility to live more than one life, in that case, I would do many different specializations - pathology, cardiac surgery, or internal medicine. The intensive care and emergency medicine specialties are such immense fields which combine my interests together with a broad spectrum of patient cases. It makes me fulfilled about what I do.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

I have always been interested in science and fascinated by the human body, by its coherence and how it works together. However, I was interested in technologies, power, and speed as well, and this passion still lasts. That is why I wanted to be a pilot at first. However, I realized that the path of the pilot is so expensive and without any certainty of success and that I couldn't afford it.

At the age of 8, while studying elementary school, I was the leader of the school paramedics' competition group. We have succeeded in many competitions, and I have amazing memories of those days. At high school, I was very good in biology and chemistry, physics, and mathematics as well, and I thought that the study of medicine would suit me well. None of the members of my family is a doctor, but I decided to study medicine, and I realized that it is a task and passion for whole life and that there will always be so much to learn. What's more, this profession makes sense to me more than doing anything else. I love it.

Come to see the work at the Emergency Department in one of the biggest hospitals in Europe. You will see a broad spectrum of patients, many different diseases, and of course, how to manage the examination and treatment of our patients. You can gain much experience in almost every situation happening each day.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

I like multi-disciplinary cooperation, the surroundings, and my colleagues. I also like the broad spectrum of patients coming to us and those tricky moments to solve the problem, which can be often hidden or abnormal. This job is quick, targeted, and very effective. You have to manage your time depending on the situation, the patients and the triage system and still do your job quickly, effectively and you should pay attention all the time.

It sounds like a very stressful work, but when you get used to it, there is fun as well, and when an old lady grabs your hand and says: "Thank you, doctor, now I am fine," that is awesome. And not only the elderly patients, but also the others, even when they can not see you, because they are confused or in a coma, it is a very nice and rewarding feeling to be part of the team, which can save lives. We are in the front line.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will see the management of the work at the Emergency Department, the way we treat the patients, how to speak with them, what questions to ask them and how to treat and investigate in a specific and targeted way. You will be able, after a short introduction, to examine the patient yourself and then tell me your conclusion and what you would have done to solve the problem. Then I will explain and show you the right way. You will see a broad spectrum of patients coming in with trauma, severe pain, hemorrhagic diseases, neurologic diseases, with cardiac failure, and many others. These conditions can sometimes be kind of tricky to set up the right medication or to even find out about them when the patient is uncooperative, confused, or in a coma.

Apart from being a healthcare professional…

I love to ride a motorbike. I spend much time in a seat of mine, almost every vacation. It's a part of my lifestyle - spending time out, being free, and with my best friends. I go out for a walk.

My motto…

I know that I know nothing.

Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Peter Lux

Senior Doctor

Doctor


It was crystal clear to me that I wanted to become a pediatrician and that is why I chose to study medicine. To work with kids - even severely ill - is highly motivating and positive. And the variety of the field where you take care of a newborn baby with a weight of a few hundred grams or a grown-up person being 18 years old... It is fascinating, and it makes our job amazing in the richness of patient cases we work on. And I started to work in pediatric emergency medicine by accident, or maybe it was a destiny, who knows wink

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

Ever since elementary school, I knew I wanted to be a pediatrician. Why it was so, I have no idea, but I felt that way. During my studies at grammar school, I became even more certain about this path as chemistry and biology were my favorite subjects. And the American series "ER" about the emergency department was my favorite one, too. smile As I was quite healthy in my childhood and I knew my pediatric GP only from the vaccination checks, I worked before my GSCE exam as a healthcare assistant at the ENT department for children. That helped me to realize that the hospital environment is the right one for me and supported my career decision even more. I didn't need to speak about what I want to do with my mom and dad. Even during my studies nor during my career I never regretted the choice of being a doctor. 

Our primary goal is to work fast but effectively and keep the turnover of received an released patients in high numbers as the number of beds at our disposal is limited but not the amount of the ambulance cars coming in which can be practically unlimited. The work at the departments such as emergency in adults or children resembles a bit to a work of paramedics, law enforcement officers or firefighters. The tasks are one-off, impossible to plan from the practical point of view and you just never know what's going to come.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

The work with children and pediatric emergency care is the ideal profession for me. It is the exciting and rewarding job. You can see the effect of what you do quite quickly, and you receive great feedback on your results. This kind of satisfaction can give you only medicine.

The unpredictability and adrenalin keep you always on guard, and that is very good. The stressful and tensed moments are way easier thanks to a great team of nurses and also the cooperation with the colleagues from other specialized centers. I like the feeling that we can and know how to help a child who is ill while being humble and without us playing Gods.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

When I start the shift, I get the information from my colleague first about the patients who are at the department, and then I work on the acute patient cases who were brought in by the medical rescue service or by their parents. I cooperate closely with other specialists - colleagues mainly from Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Surgery, Neurology, Orthopedics, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Psychiatry, or Neurosurgery, Stomatosurgery, Spinal surgery, Otorhinolaryngology or Ophthalmology. After my patients are examined and adequately treated, we send them home, to outpatients departments or to hospitalize them within the University Hospital in Motol or to another facility. 

You will have a chance to see the complex care we take of children patient in the biggest hospital in the Czech Republic. The range of our cases is wide in the category of children from 0 to 18 years of age. You will see all the possible and also unthinkable diagnoses from internal, pediatric and traumatology areas. You will see the newborn patients with dyspnoea, children with the loss of consciousness and seizures to infectious and oncological patients. We take care of intoxicated children, patients after trauma and car accidents or psychiatric patients, too. You will shadow a pediatrician and witness the multidisciplinary approach and management of the nursing team. While seeing all from the first row you will be able to observe the process of team's preparation, takeovers of patients from the medical rescue service, anamnesis, treatment plan, diagnostic examination, and methods, patients reactions and the direct effect of the treatment on the patient as well as changes in the children' conditions. You will see the imaging methods and examination methods in emergency medicine and other specialties. Another part you can observe is the communication with parents and psychosocial and social aspect of the pediatric care.

Apart from being a healthcare professional...

My hobbies are my family, being outdoors in nature, riding a bike, skiing, as well as good movies and literature.

My motto…

Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Tereza Lužná

Junior Doctor

Doctor


Our department is the perfect place to see and learn about differential diagnoses, as we receive a non-selected variety of patients, including those with life-threating conditions. It is up to us to make a preliminary diagnosis and either confirm it, change it, or exclude it. We are the ones who provide the first line of treatment and then send the patient for hospitalization, give them medicine, tell them to go home, and/or transfer them to one of the acute departments.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

Since my childhood, I have wanted to work as a doctor, just as my dad does. I have always considered medicine to be a beautiful and useful occupation, and I believe it is my contribution toward making the world a better place. The head doctor of the ER in the University Hospital in Motol was kind enough to trust me, so I started to work there, even though I was not sure which field I would choose after my studies. It is very important to have teachers that you can learn from, and I have amazing colleagues who have already taught me so much.

Our department offers an overall look at acute, non-selected medicine. It is a very dynamic place which demands constant communication, decision-making, and putting the pieces together. It can show you wide range of procedures, situations, and strategies.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

I like the variety of my work; it is almost never the same. Every patient and their complaints are different, which can make things quite a challenge. I always learn something new. I also like the dynamics and order of our work, as well as the working hours. Usually, we are either quite busy or extremely busy, so the time passes very quickly and is never boring. Last but not least, we have a very friendly team of doctors, nurses, and non-medical staff, so the atmosphere at work is great. That is a strong source of motivation for me, and I love going to work as a result.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will be the first line of contact with non-selected patients. You can encounter many kinds of illnesses, from non-serious cases meant primarily for a GP, to very serious cases requiring ET intubation or resuscitation. We also decide whether patient needs to be hospitalized or are able to undergo ambulatory treatment. The most common conditions we encounter include: acute infections, abdominal pain, collapses, chest pain, dyspnea, renal problems, allergic reactions, neurological problems, back pain, deterioration of elderly or oncological patients, and intoxication. We also see a lot of travelers. Some of the cases are very interesting and unusual, and we cooperate with many specialists who come to examine the patients.

Apart from being a healthcare professional...

I love sports, and I try to spend my time outdoors when I can. I also love dancing; I dance in a Slovakian folk group and I also dance the tango. From time to time, I have a chance to go to the theatre or to concerts. I also enjoy reading.

My motto…

Life is full of things to explore, and it is always worth doing so. smile

Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Dana Pittlová

Senior Doctor

Doctor


In medicine, you can never say that you know everything because there is always something new to learn and discover. During my three-year internship in Africa, I gained experience in pediatrics and tropical medicine, and I came in contact with very sick patients and the most urgent cases. At this point in my life, I have a sense of humility because I know that we as doctors do not have sole control over human lives.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

I always knew who I wanted to be, and I did everything to make it a reality. Being a doctor always seemed like an interesting and even mysterious profession to me. During my studies at grammar school, I was convinced that it would be me who would discover a cure for cancer. I was fascinated by the perfect functionality of the human body and its many secrets. As a doctor today, I consider emergency medicine universal; experiences from this field can be used everywhere, and the demand for emergency doctors is very high. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn that when I was working in England and Northern Ireland.

Don’t be afraid to take this opportunity for a placement in emergency medicine.There is always positivity in our workplace, and when the tough moments come, they never last too long. 

What do I love the most about my specialty?

The work is exciting and unpredictable because I meet many different patients every day. Sometimes the cases are simple and the diagnosis is obvious, but sometimes diagnosing a patient can take a very long time. I learn something new every day, even after years in this profession. It is a wonderful feeling when you can save someone’s life; nevertheless, we have to accept the fact that not everyone can be saved. I also love the utter unpredictability of my work – in the morning, I never know what the day will bring, and during my shift, I don’t know what will happen in the following minutes or hours. 

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will be able to see a variety of things. First and foremost, you will have the opportunity to see the entire department and the personnel that work within it. Second, you will observe the complete process of treatment from beginning to end. This can include delivery of the patient via ambulance, the patient’s first examination, determination of a diagnosis, laboratory examinations, imaging methods, urgent operations, documentation of the patient’s history, insertion of an intravenous cannula or I-J catheterization, drawing blood, x-ray and CT scans, non-invasive or artificial ventilation, administering medication, infusions, analgosedation, and much more. Treatment for every patient is completely unique and individual because everyone comes in with a different problem.

Apart from being a healthcare professional…

My main hobbies are sleeping, traveling around the world and in the Czech Republic, cross-country running, and biking. I enjoy reading books, specifically sci-fi, and listening to classical music. I also enjoy chatting with friends to relax a bit.

My motto…

If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.

Photo Jan Šibík

MUDr. Lucia Ruttkayová

Junior Doctor

Doctor


Ever since my childhood, I was really sure about becoming a doctor. Nevertheless, my first contact with the reality of this profession was hard and shocking after finishing the med school. For quite a few moments I thought about changing my career entirely and becoming a wedding photographer. But after a year it all just fall into place and I feel a great satisfaction out of what I do. What helped me to overcome this early career crisis was the support of my boyfriend and my stubbornness smile

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

When I was eight years old I got sick with tonsillitis. My parents took me to the hospital and because my dad wanted to have a word with the doctor and I kept on distracting them, they gave me the doctor’s stethoscope to play with it. At this moment I told myself: “WOW, this is what I want to do." So at the age of ten, I was pretty certain I wanted to be a doctor.

You can see a wide spectrum of different cases at the Emergency Department for Adults. I think it is an ideal placement for young healthcare professionals as you learn to think about the patient in a context and that everything in the human body is interrelated.   

What do I love the most about my specialty?

At the beginning of my career, I hesitated between cardiology and internal medicine specialties but emergency medicine was tempting to me. I really like the unpredictability and diversity of my work. Urgent medicine is a very dynamic field and the spectrum of what we as healthcare professionals deal with every day in terms of patient cases is immense. I love the diagnostic part of my job. And what’s more, people I work with here are great. 

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will learn that a typical day in the Emergency does not exist as that is when the unpredictability strikes. There are days where we have a steady stream of patients all the day, other days we are two hours patient-free and then there are ten acute cases at once. Once the patient is brought in to our department, his vital functions are checked in detail and the nurse informs me about any particular anomalies. I take the initial information and we will make together the anamnesis. We will also ask for further examinations if needed. The most common ones are blood samples, RTG, and ultrasound. We will have a look at all of the results to evaluate what next steps will be taken. In other more dynamic cases you will see how we cooperate inter-departmentally, the most often with the Intensive Care Unit or the Catheterization Unit.

Apart from being a healthcare professional...

We like bike-riding with my husband as well as jogging and traveling. We plan to go to Iran, Armenia, and Georgia during the next holidays.

Photogallery

LOVE WHAT YOU DO WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT