Clinic of Balneology and Physical Medicine of the Medical University in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Adress:

Lesna 3; 87-720 Ciechocinek; Poland;
phone:(0048)5483-3945; fax:(0048)5483-3915

Head :
Prof. dr hab. Irena Ponikowska

Staff:
Dr inz Wlodzimierz Szmurlo
lek. med. Jacek Chojnowski
lek.med. Konrad Wlodarczyk
Dr Khai Vu, Fellow
Dr Grazyna Kalmus, Pediatrician & balneology
Dr Yehia Ali Abdullah Al-Hosam
Mgr Iwona Szczawinska
Teresa Mincer
Anna Panka
Alina Serocka
Aldona Makowska

General Information:

The Clinic of Balneology and Metabolic Diseases is a research department of Medical University in Bydgoszcz. It consists of the following departments:

1. Clinic of Metabolic Diseases with diabetological, angiological, and rheumatological wards

2. Department of Pediatric Metabolic Diseases

3. Office of Balneotechnics, headed by Dr. Smurlo

4. Diabetic outpatient clinic

The Clinic has its own inpatient ward at Dom Zdrojowy Spa Hospital which is located in a large and beautiful Polish spa town- Ciechocinek, known for its brine mineral water and is located approximately 60 km from the medical university in Bydgoszcz. The Clinic serves as the main office for the Polish Association of Balneology and Physical Medicine with its current president, Prof. dr hab. Irena Ponikowska. Scientific conventions on spa medicine are held in Ciechocinek. Balneological textbooks and the Polish Balneology Journal are published here as well.

Head of Department:

Prof. Ponikowska is the current president of the Polish Association of Balneology and Physical Medicine. Prof. Ponikowska also serves as the consultant to the Minister of Health on health resort medicine to bring about standardization and quality medical care throughout forty health resorts in Poland. She organizes the Polish Congress of Balneology held every two years and now, is the coorganizer of the international conference on spa medicine between Poland and USA. She has authored several books on balneology:

1. Diabetology in spa medicine
2. Spa Medicine textbook for the physicians
3. Handbook of spa therapy- written specifically for the patient
4. Compendium of Spa Medicine- indications and contraindication to spa treatments, quality of medical spa service and characteristics of forty health resorts in Poland
5. Research Results on medical and economic parameters in the quality of spa treatments
Research Activities:

- risk factors in arteriosclerotic patients with diabetes
- studies of coagulation and fibrinolysis in diabetic and arteriosclerotic patients
- mechanisms and effects of balneological treatment
- balneoozonotherapy- clinical investigations and technical problems in the application of ozone therapy
- ozonotherapy- study the effects and mechanisms of this treatment for patients with ulcerations of lower extremities in diabetic foot syndrome
- cryotherapy and thermotherapy
- diet and pharmacotherapy used in conjunction with spa therapy
- balneotechnic which explores innovations of new spa equipment and devices along with new methods or techniques of balneological application
- investigation of obesity
- balneological approach in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
- examination of fluctuation of bone turnover markers in patients with osteoporosis after balneological treatment
- health education
- study the quality of medical service in spa medicine
Education:
Our Clinic is performing postgraduate educational study program to prepare spa physicians- in-training for their exams. We are also conducting balneological study program for the 6th year medical students at the Medical Univ. in Bydgoszcz and for students of physiotherapy.

Methods of examination:

Routine laboratory chemistry
Fructosamin and glycosilated hemoglobin
Fibrinogen and fibrinolytic factors
Blood flow in lower extremities with Flow-Doppler
Transcutaneous oximetry, capillaroscopy, spirometry, body composition, and densitometry

Methods of treatments:

In our clinic, we are trying to combine modern pharmacological treatments with balneology and physical medicine in order to achieve the best results for our patients. Besides balneotherapy, we use balneokinesitherapy, ozonotherapy, electrotherapy, light therapy, iontophoresis and magnetotherapy.