The Khronicles

 The Bilingual Community Newspaper

'Η Δίγλωσση Τοπική Εφημερίδα Σας

Τα Χρονικά
    ISSUE NO. 44 DECEMBER 2009 WWW.KO-GO.GR    

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The Khronicles

A division of

Ko-Go Επιχειρήσεις

Box 332
Kokkini Hani 71500
Web address: www.ko-go.gr
editor@ko-go.gr
Telephone: 2810-762748
Fax: 2810-762816

Publisher:

Sofia Klidi

Editor:

Lou Duro

Associate Editors:

Tony & Christine Bowes

Web Editor

John McLaren

Contributors/
Columnists:

Renie Spykerman, Petra Karreman, Maria Daskalaki, John McLaren, Bob Bayes, Father Dimitris Mihouthis, Father Leonidas Hatzakis, Vasiliki Alexaki-Hronaki, Michalis Vardakis, Niki Yiamalaki, Dr. Vangelis Athousakis, Nikolaos Papadakis, Spyros Hatzakis, Jasmine Farsarakis

Translations:

Ada Vamvoukaki

Photographer:

Sami Moudavaris

Layout & Design:

George Drakakis

Printed By:

G Detorakis



CRETAN MEDICARE DIRECTOR IS
ALSO OLD-STYLE 'DOC'
By Lou Duro & Sofia Klidi


"I never go anywhere without my black bag, which is always by my side," Dr. Dimitrios Batsis stated emphatically, pointing to the medical case next to his desk. "If I see a problem or an accident, I stop and see what I can do to help."

In fact, it was Dr. Batsis' caring for accident victims which led to his founding the prestigious year-round Cretan Medicare Center in Hersonissos.

In 1994 he was witness to a horrific accident involving two young girls from Germany on holiday in Hersonissos who lost control of their motorbikes, and were hit by a truck.

"We responded immediately," he said. "The truck went over one girl's legs and the other girl's abdomen. We administered what we could, and then rushed the girls to the hospital with our private cars. By the time the ambulance finally arrived only the truck driver was left, suffering from shock, so they took him to the hospital.

That incident is what started Dr. Batsis and some concerned colleagues thinking about a local medical center.

"At the time of this accident, the Hersonissos area was very primitive as far as medical care was concerned," the 54-year-old doctor said. "In a case of a heart attack we would have to call a taxi to take the patient to the hospital. The medics on the old American base always helped, and many people are still alive because they received first aid there. Then when the base closed, things got even worse. That's when we knew we must do something for the area."

Dr. Batsis said the first medical center lasted a week.

"Five doctors working out of one office . . . we opened on a Monday and closed by Friday," he recalled. The following year, 1995, three doctors, myself included, opened the Cretan Medicare Center."

In addition to Hersonissos, the medical center facilities cover the areas of Malia, Stalis and Analipsi, and maintain a staff of 95, fluent in 15 languages, including 40 doctors in various specialties. Also, there are two ambulances; x-ray and ultra sound units; two microbiology labs; a cardiologist with machines for heart eco, stress test; 24-hour blood pressure control and other monitoring equipment. Doctors in all specialties include a pediatrician, co-operating gynecologist, surgeons, orthopedics, radiologist and others.




Dr. Elena Gorshkova in the cardiology
and x-ray department

 Dr. Batsis, originally from Korinthos, emigrated to Brooklyn where he attended high school, and then went on to New York University Medical School for his first year. For his second year, he retuned to his home country and enrolled at Athens Medical School, where he attained his degree. In 1988 he came to Hersonissos as an agro-doctor, a service he performed for the next seven years, prior to opening the center.

Cretan Medicare is open around the clock everyday, summer and winter, and accepts OAEE (old TEVE), government employee insurance, farmers' insurance, and TAXI (hotel workers).

Although heading the medical center keeps Dr. Batsis extremely busy, he always has time for new learning experiences when it comes to health. Since last year, he is a certified acupuncturist after graduating from the Athens International Post-Graduate Institute of Acupuncture.

"Acupuncture helps where tablets fail," he stated, "like back problems, asthma and sinuses. Also, it works well for losing weight and, to stop smoking, it works almost 60 percent of the time."

Dr. Batsis is also a second-term Hersonissos town councilman and keeps up with community needs. 

"We live in Hersonissos," he said, "and we want to see our area get ahead. I believe in giving back to the people."

 

Dr. Batsis and his wife, Sofia, have three children and they're all studying to become doctors, just like dad. Irene, 23, and Maria, 21, are at Athens Medical School, and Kris, 18 is studying abroad.

When asked about future plans, he said he was thinking about a rehabilitation center.

"The weather and environment here is perfect for that type of facility," he explained. "Plus we already have the doctors, the machines, the labs. What we need is the living quarters, like a small hotel, and the rehabilitation equipment. It is a very expensive project and a tremendous amount of work to set it up, but we have been thinking about it."




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