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Introduction: Implementation of trauma systems has markedly assisted in improving outcomes of the injured patient. However, differences exist internationally as diverse social factors, economic conditions and national particularities are placing obstacles. The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate the current Greek trauma system, provide a comprehensive review and suggest key actions.Methods: An exhaustive search of the - scarce on this subject - English and Greek literature was carried out to analyze all the main components of the Greek trauma system, according to American College of Surgeons' criteria, as well as the WHO Trauma Systems Maturity Index.Results: Regarding prevention, efforts are in the right direction lowering the road traffic incidents-related death rate, however rural and insular regions remain behind. Hellenic Emergency Medical Service (EKAB) has well-defined communications and emergency phone line but faces problems with educating people on how to use it properly. In addition, equal and systematic training of ambulance personnel is a challenge, with the lack of pre-hospital registry and EMS quality assessment posing a question on where the related services are currently standing. Redistribution of facilities' roles with the establishment of the first formal trauma centre in the existing infrastructure would facilitate the development of a national registry and introduction of the trauma surgeon subspecialty with proper training potential. Definite rehabilitation institutional protocols that include both inpatient and outpatient care are needed. Disaster preparedness entails an extensive national plan and regular drills, mainly at the pre-hospital level. The lack, however, of any accompanying quality assurance programs hampers the effort to yield the desirable results.Conclusion: Despite recent economic crisis in Greece, actions solving logistics and organising issues may offer a well-defined, integrated trauma system without uncontrollably raising the costs. Political will is needed for reforms that use pre-existing infrastructure and working power in a more efficient way, with a first line priority being the establishment of the first major trauma centre that could function as the cornerstone for the building of the Greek trauma system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE Medical education (ME), as a specific field of knowledge related to the processes of medical teaching and learning, is gradually gaining ground in Greece. It does not need to start from scratch, as relevant papers have been already published in the Greek medical literature. The aim of this paper was to list all the articles that refer to ME, published in the journals of the Athens Medical Society: Archives of Hellenic Medicine (AHM) and Archives of Medical Societies (AMS). METHOD Every single published issue was indexed. After the 4th issue of the 16th volume of ??? (July--August 1999) all articles are available on the web (http://www.mednet.gr/archives/). The earlier issues were found either in the Library of Health Sciences of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens or in the Library of the Athens Medical Society. In both cases, the table of contents was first checked, either electronically since July- August 1999 or manually for all previous issues. The abstracts of all articles that initially considered relevant were read and the irrelevant ones were excluded. RESULTS The first issue of AMS was published in the first trimester of the year 1975. The first issue of AHM, the sequel to AMS, was published in February 1984. Having indexed 36 volumes, 47 articles on ME were found (1.28 per year). The first such article was in the 2nd issue of the 5th volume of AMS (1979) and the last in the 3rd issue of the 27th volume of AHM (2010). During its 9-year period of publication, AMS hosted 16 ME articles (1.8 per year), while A?M journal has hosted 31 ME articles in its 26 years of publication (1.2 per year). All papers relevant to ME are listed here, including the 6 that have been recently accepted (2010) but not yet published. CONCLUSIONS Although AMS and AHM are medical and not medical-education journals, ME has found its way into their pages. The listing of ME articles could be helpful to those who intend to work in the field of education of medical students and doctors. The expansion of this indexing to include all other medical journals would contribute to the whole picture of the relevant to Greek bibliography on ME, which should not be ignored by those interested in ME in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present an overview of current medical education in Greece. Greece has a centuries-long tradition in practising and teaching medicine. Medical training, although rigorous, is particularly humane. All Medical Schools in Modern Greece are currently, undergoing a series of changes in an effort to modernise training. The medical education system is also getting harmonised to European Standards for Higher Education, relating to Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Continuous Medical Education of doctors. A specific strength of the Greek educational system is its ethos that emphasises good working conditions and excellent support and supervision at all levels. The current overhauls in Higher Education occupy students, academics and the society at large. Political issues, such as accountability, regulation and autonomy of academia are generating debate. The two-cycle, Bachelor-Master, Undergraduate Model, as described in the Bologna Declaration is still to be implemented. Quality control measures are currently introduced in all academic sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]