Illness in the ward. The head doctor of the complex Orthopedics operational unit of the Paola-Cetraro spoke, Massimo Candela, was struck by a sudden heart attack while he was in the health facility intent on carrying out some outpatient visits. Moments of apprehension among colleagues and patients considering the gravity of the situation. Immediately rescued, Doctor Candela was urgently transferred to the emergency room of the San Francesco Hospital in Paola, where the healthcare staff provided initial treatment, stabilizing his conditions. Subsequently, the hospital cardiologists arrived in the ward. The white coats carried out in-depth investigations which highlighted the need for intervention. After an initial stabilization phase, it was decided to transfer to a more equipped facility. The head physician was rushed to the Annunziata hospital in Cosenza where the cardiology team underwent specialist surgery with the application of two stents. The operation concluded successfully and Candela is now hospitalized in intensive care.
In 2024, the Orthopedics unit of the Paola Hospital led by Candela achieved the best performance in terms of productivity within the services provided by the Provincial Health Authority of Cosenza. Overall, it managed 674 ordinary hospitalizations and 162 day hospitals and carried out 1,250 operations. The department which over time has become an excellence of the Calabrian healthcare system and which despite staff shortages has marched at a record pace. With regards to interventions, Orthopedics succeeded during the shortage period thanks to only three doctors who were previously on duty.
And thanks also to Massimo Candela, a doctor who never spared himself in times of emergency. A criticality which, however, does nothing but generate workloads that are often excessive and often without adequate recovery times. A mix that can cause sudden illness not only due to the long working hours but also due to the responsibility associated with making vital decisions in interventions.