For Dr. Monika Gašević, joining Prijedor General Hospital and taking over as head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation was primarily a professional challenge, but also an opportunity to achieve long-term progress through teamwork and the support of the hospital management.
In a relatively short period, the department has improved the quality and safety of healthcare services, acquired modern medical equipment and created conditions in which patients always come first.
We spoke with Dr. Gašević about the department’s results, the importance of speaking with patients before surgery and the opportunities available to young doctors. She proudly emphasizes that behind every success stands a strong and motivated team.
Professional challenge and support from hospital management
What made you decide to accept the challenge of working at Prijedor General Hospital?
Moving to the hospital in Prijedor was primarily a professional challenge for me, but also an opportunity to work with my colleagues to create something that will have long-term significance for the entire institution.
When I accepted this position, I knew that many challenges lay ahead, but at the same time I saw enormous potential. We have a large number of patients, capable professionals and, most importantly, a willingness to work and make changes.
The decisive factor for me was the people I work with and the feeling that there is room for us to improve things together. When you have the people and resources to work with, and when you can see the results of your work, the job truly becomes a pleasure.
What results has the Anesthesiology Department achieved over the past several months?
I think the results provide the best answer.
In a relatively short period, we have improved the organization of our work, acquired significant medical equipment and created better working conditions.
However, the number of procedures alone is not a sufficient indicator. In anesthesiology, patient safety, quality of care and treatment outcomes are what matter most. That is precisely what we insist on.
How important is cooperation with hospital management for the department’s progress?
It is crucial.
Good communication between medical professionals and hospital management allows problems to be identified and resolved quickly. We have excellent cooperation with the director and management, which gives us the opportunity to turn certain ideas into concrete results.
Modern medicine requires investment, but investing in equipment only makes sense if you simultaneously invest in the people who use that equipment.
Teamwork as the foundation of success
How important is the team you work with?
There is no individual success in anesthesiology. Everything is based on teamwork.
I have truly excellent colleagues — anesthesiologists, anesthesia technicians, nurses and colleagues from other specialties. I would particularly emphasize the importance of our nursing and technical staff, because their work and experience have a direct impact on patient safety.
We also receive considerable support from fellow anesthesiologists from Banja Luka who come to work in Prijedor. Their experience and knowledge further strengthen our team.
Thanks to all of this, we are able to provide patients with anesthesiology services at a very high level.
Has it been difficult to overcome the challenges faced by a general hospital?
There are challenges and there always will be. That is the reality of every healthcare institution. What matters much more is how you respond to them.
With good organization, mutual trust and support, a great deal can be achieved even when circumstances are not ideal. I believe we have demonstrated that over the past several months.
Patients in safe hands
Are patients still afraid of anesthesia?
Of course. And that is completely understandable.
Before surgery, patients think about many things — whether they will wake up, whether they will feel pain, what will happen during the operation. Fear of the unknown is natural.
That is why talking to the patient before surgery is extremely important. When you sit down with them, listen to their concerns and explain what they can expect, their fear is often significantly reduced. Patients need to feel that they have been heard and that they are in safe hands.
What would you single out as the greatest achievement of the past several months?
The greatest achievement is not any single thing. It is the fact that, within several months, we improved the way we work, acquired new equipment and built a team that functions effectively.
What is particularly encouraging, however, is that today we are not only talking about what has already been accomplished, but also about what lies ahead.
Prijedor General Hospital is beginning a major reconstruction of its existing facility, along with the construction of a new section of the hospital. Considering that the hospital has not undergone comprehensive reconstruction since 1985, it is clear how important this moment is.
This is not simply about new walls and additional space. It means better working conditions for employees and higher-quality, safer healthcare for patients.
It is also important that the current director has, in a relatively short period, made certain advances that are already visible and which, from a professional perspective, are highly significant for the hospital’s future development.
Doors open to young doctors
Are the doors of the Anesthesiology Department at Prijedor General Hospital open to young doctors?
Absolutely. Our doors are open to young doctors who want to learn, work and advance professionally.
Young colleagues should be offered more than just a job. They should be given opportunities for education, the chance to work alongside experienced colleagues, modern working conditions and, above all, a good team.
That is why I would like to invite them to get to know our hospital and see what we have to offer.
Prijedor has a lot to offer.
How do you see the future of Prijedor General Hospital and its Anesthesiology Department in the coming years?
I want us to continue developing the department through modern equipment, education and continuous professional development.
The goal is not simply to perform as many procedures as possible. The goal is for every patient to receive safe, high-quality anesthesiology care.
I believe we now have a solid foundation for further development — people who want to work, support from hospital management and colleagues and, particularly importantly, the project for the reconstruction and expansion of the hospital.
It is now up to us to make the most of that potential.
Finally, when you say “my hospital” today, what does being head of the Anesthesiology Department at Prijedor General Hospital mean to you?
Today, when I say “my hospital,” I do not mean only the institution where I work. I mean the people with whom I share responsibility, challenges, successes and setbacks every day.
For me, being head of the Anesthesiology Department means, above all, responsibility — toward patients, colleagues and the trust that has been placed in me. But it is also a privilege to participate, together with my team, in building a better department.
Over these past several months, I have realized that a sense of belonging does not come with a position. It is built through everyday work, trust and shared results.
I could not have achieved any of this alone. Behind everything stands a team — anesthesiologists, anesthesia technicians, nurses, colleagues from other departments, hospital management and all those who believe that this hospital can and must become even better.
That is why today, when I say “my hospital,” what I really mean is — “our hospital.”
Source: Kozarski Vjesnik
