The World Center of Hearing of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing led since its foundation by prof. Henryk Skarżyński, received an award in the contest “Safe Hospital of the Future – Inspirations 2020”. It won the first place, together with Śląskie Centrum Chorób Serca w Zabrzu (Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases in Zabrze), in the category “Innovative solutions, products and services to improve the quality of life, health, access to services – devices, technologies, telemedicine, applications, start-up solutions”. The official Gala was held on the 30th of September, 2021 in the assembly hall of the National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation in Warsaw. The award was collected by prof. Henryk Skarżyński.

The contest promotes individuals, institutions, hospitals, non-governmental organisations and companies in the health care sector that played a unique role last year in the dissemination of new ideas, solutions and technologies, contributing to the improvement of the safety of patients and hospital staff. The Inspirations Contest was organised by Idea Trade, the Coalition Safe Hospital of the Future coordinator, and the “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna” daily newspaper. The Chairman of the contest jury and honorary patron was Dr. Marek Tombarkiewicz, director of the Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation.

– Of the 7 categories of the contest, the most important, in my opinion, are the issues of patient safety and reduction of adverse events, in particular hospital infections. While we are busy combating the coronavirus, we cannot forget about “regular” hospital infections. This problem may be less highlighted at present, yet it is still essential – said the Chairman of the Contest Jury, Marek Tombarkiewicz, M.D., during the award ceremony.

The World Center of Hearing was awarded for the project: “Sensory Examination Capsule, the idea of which was conceived by prof. Henryk Skarżyński. It was created as a result of the implementation of the project: “Integrated system of tools for diagnostics and telerehabilitation of sensory organ disorders (hearing, vision, speech, sense of balance, taste, smell) INNOSENSE”, co-financed by the National Center for Research and Development under the Strategic programme “Prevention and treatment of civilisation diseases” – STRATEGMED. During the design work, innovative devices, examination procedures, and screening and diagnostic tests were developed. The Capsule enables self-screening for disorders of speech organ and sense organs (hearing, vision, speech, sense of balance,  smell, taste), so crucial in the process of human communication. It also allows population screens to be run in various age or professional groups. The developed model of screening and diagnostic tests in the Capsule, supported by survey results, significantly increases the precision in sensory disorder detection while minimising the time needed to perform the test. Thanks to telemedicine, specialised doctors can conduct consultations, recommend other tests, and oversee rehabilitation processes.

The patrons of honour of the Inspirations 2020 contest included: acting chairman of the National Health Fund, Filip Nowak, and director of the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, Grzegorz Juszczyk, Ph.D. in Health Sciences.