Lepel military sanatorium intends to obtain the status of the highest category of medical and health facilities
Competition is indeed very high. Among more than 110 similar institutions in Belarus, approximately 60 have the same qualification category as the health resort in the Lepel region – the first. In ten months of the current year, 6,694 people have improved their health and had a wonderful rest here. Of these, 264 are children with disabilities, plus the same number of accompanying adults. For several years now, the sanatorium has been providing services for this category of citizens, and special conditions for their accommodation have been created in residential building No. 2.
But the sanatorium was most in demand among foreign citizens this year: 4,279 people from Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Austria, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Germany, and other countries visited here. Many had been to the Lepel region for the first time. And those who discovered the amazingly beautiful nature reserve and the wonderful health resort, as a rule, intend to return. For example, the girl Olya, whom you see in the picture, is from a large family; she came here with her dad and mom from the Oryol region of the Russian Federation. Her older sisters stayed home with their grandmother.
– But next time we will definitely come with our whole big family, – Olya’s dad promised. – We found out about this sanatorium by chance – friends told us. And we, just like them, are charmed by the nature, satisfied with the care, high quality of medical services, and affordable prices.
– The sanatorium administration has decided to keep the cost of vouchers practically at last year's level, – said **Sergey Golubev, Deputy Head of the Lepel Military Sanatorium for Medical Affairs**. – This is a principled position of the management and staff: despite all the difficulties and crisis phenomena, to ensure two essential conditions for our patients – high quality of services and an affordable price. This allows us to fill
sanatorium even in the off-season, to be competitive in the market, to operate with at least minimal profitability.The high professionalism of the sanatorium's employees plays an important role in this. For many years, it has been headed by a doctor of the third generation, laureate of the regional executive committee's "Person of the Year of Vitebsk Region" award, Mikhail Lyakh. The entire team looks up to their leader. Over 50% of the medical and nursing staff have the highest and first qualification categories. This year, two more doctors have defended their qualifications.
Each specialist strives to introduce something new in the field of sanatorium, health, and medical services and to improve patient care. Starting with the dietitian, who, together with the production manager, not only takes care of the aspects of therapeutic nutrition but also expands the menu with national dishes.
– Throughout the year, almost all our doctors prepare scientific and practical papers, and based on the results, they share their ideas with colleagues, – emphasizes Sergey Olegovich. – The main focus is on a comprehensive approach to organizing treatment. As a rule, patients have more than one ailment – we diagnose many concomitant diseases. So, we are looking for an optimal solution to, firstly, adhere to the doctor's primary commandment and do no harm, and secondly, to select a course that is not too intensive but brings the greatest positive therapeutic effect to the entire body. Simply put, if a person, for example, suffers from a musculoskeletal disorder, it is important not only to treat the joints but also to support the cardiovascular system, etc. By the way, our doctors have developed and implemented many effective methods for using various procedures that have not been described anywhere before.
For patients of any sanatorium, living conditions, organization of leisure time, and opportunities for physical activity and sports are important. These issues are given the utmost attention at the Lepel institution. This year, the main capital investments were directed towards improving living conditions and renovating the health resort's territory.
A football field, a badminton and tennis court have been improved, almost a kilometer of paths has been paved with concrete tiles – here they strive to replace the old asphalt pavement as much as possible, and the coastal recreation and health improvement zone is being landscaped. The beach of the military sanatorium is among the top ten in the country. All investments aimed at improving the material base have been earned by the staff.
Of course, a swimming pool, the construction of which has been discussed for many years, would help to improve the quality of services, expand them, and attract more patients. The design and estimate documentation is ready. But for now, this idea remains just a dream – without the help of the state or the founder (the sanatorium belongs to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus), the residents of Lepel cannot implement this project on their own.
Although the next scheduled attestation of the sanatorium was planned for 2018, it was decided to undergo it this year and confirm the high status of the health and medical institution. This allowed us to successfully participate in a tender conducted by the Republican Center for Health Improvement and Sanatorium-Resort Treatment and win three lots. In addition, the marketing department works with a number of travel agencies, regular partners, and directly with clients, thanks to which the sanatorium is fully booked even in the off-season.
Elena TELIATKO, photos by the author. "Vitsiebskiya Naviny".