Annual Report 2007 - English Summary  

Organ transplantations

All organ transplantations in Norway are performed at Rikshospitalet University Hospital. The number of transplantations in 2007 was 417, compared to 340 in 2006.

DRG points

The scope of patient treatment in most areas is measured by means of a DRG point (Diagnosis Related Grouping) system. Rikshospitalet University Hospital achieved 93 648 DRG points in 2007. The dispersion of patients referred from different health regions measured in DRG points, was relatively stable in 2007 compared to 2006.

Patient volume and waiting time

The increase in patient referred to the hospital in 2007 was accommodated by increasing treatment activities. For this reason the average waiting time in 2007 of 148 days was the same as in 2006. 

Medical record summaries
Rikshospitalet University Hospital has a goal of dispatching 80 percent of all Medical record summaries within seven days after the patients are discharged. During 2007 this figure rose from 59.5 percent at the beginning of the year compared to 64.5 percent at the end of the year.

More demanding treatment

The trend with more demand for x-ray examinations, tests, analyses and the like related to each patient continued in 2007. The number of anaesthesia hours rose by 3.5 percent from 2006 compared to 2007, while the number of hours on respirator rose by 19 percent.
Inpatients at Rikshospitalet University Hospital receive increasingly more complex treatment. The average DRG index for inpatients was 1.82 in 2007, compared to 1.68 in 2006. The average index for all Norwegian hospitals is 1.

Patient satisfaction

In 2007 Rikshospitalet University Hospital implemented a dedicated electronic system for surveying user satisfaction on an ongoing basis. The objective for the clinics is to receive monthly feedback reports for use in their improvement efforts. In the national survey of user satisfaction (No. 1-2007, the "PasOpp" report), in regard to inpatient experience in general hospitals, Rikshospitalet University Hospital received positive feedback from users and came out favourably compared to the largest hospitals.

Educating patients and their families

Rikshospitalet University Hospital has several learning and coping centres to ensure that user knowledge is a part of the patient treatment. Several educational programmes were carried out in 2007 for patients and their families, as well as courses for a number of patient organisations. The educational programme "A Child Relative" was also initiated and offered to members of the hospital staff.

New research strategy

Rikshospitalet University Hospital has a leading role in Norway in regard to medical and health research, contributing with approximately 40 percent of all medical research in the Norwegian hospitals.

In 2007 the board adopted a new Research Strategy for Rikshospitalet University Hospital for 2008-2012. Research is given priority in regard to the hospital's core activities, national functions and centres of excellence, i.e. areas of research supporting these activities.

Scientific activity

In 2007 there was a high level of scientific activity at Rikshospitalet University Hospital. Some 854 scientific publications were registered (excluding Cancer Registry of Norway), compared to 819 publications in 2006. A total of 56 Ph.D.'s were completed, where most of the work was done at Rikshospitalet University Hospital, compared to 49 in 2006.

Commercial performance

As a major national institution in research and development, Rikshospitalet University Hospital has an obligation in regard to national objectives in active development and innovation to ensure the most possible efficient use of resources for the society as a whole. In 2007 the hospital decided to coordinate the activities of its two commercialisation units, Medinnova and the Radium Hospital Research Foundation, by placing them in an integrated innovation and commercial development system. The mode is based on experiences in Stockholm (Karolinska Institutet) and Bergen (The University of Bergen).

Training

Rikshospitalet University Hospital receives students in medical subjects on bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. levels from colleges and universities, in addition to students from professional studies, doctors in specialist training and doctoral fellows in the health trust's medical specialities.

In 2007, Rikshospitalet University Hospital offered training and practical instruction to around 1,700 students. Of these, approximately 500 were students in medical subjects, around 300 doctors in specialist training and 30 doctoral fellows. In addition, around 650 undergraduates received teaching and training, while about 100 students took professional supplementary education, primarily in intensive care nursing, surgical nursing and oncology nursing. The hospital experienced also a positive development in numbers of students on master's and Ph.D. levels within several health professions.

Centre of Excellence

During 2007 Rikshospitalet University Hospital established two new Centres of Excellence in cancer and immunology, respectively, in collaboration with the University of Oslo and a Centre for Research-based Innovation in the area of cancer stem cells. In 2007 Rikshospitalet University Hospital was also given a national responsibility for developing a centre for stem cell research.

In 2007 the hospital established a research support department, tasked with providing assistance in quality assurance, finances, regulations, approval procedures, etc, in connection with research at the hospital.

Collaboration with the University of Oslo

Rikshospitalet University Hospital has been preoccupied with boosting the already extensive collaboration with universities and colleges. The hospital has an extensive collaboration with the University of Oslo on many fronts and levels as well as in the organisation. The University of Oslo is represented in the hospital's management team. The collaboration with the university and colleges emphasises the promotion of the synergistic impact between clinical activities, research and teaching.