HealthManagement, Volume 14, Issue 2/2012
Europe challenges all of us. It is not easy to remain on the right path for a common Europe against the current background of unstable economies and the financial crisis. It is now all the more important that all of us answer for a common Europe and create the prerequisites for positive development. If this happens under the stipulation of solidarity and subsidiarity in all areas of life, I am confident that this will turn out well.
Nevertheless we have to cope with a painful setback for our association. The Greek association of Hospital Directors has decided, in coordination with the Committee of the EAHM, to postpone the 2012 congress in Athens and move this year's European congress. This was a difficult decision and we would have enjoyed carrying out the congress in Athens. However, the present situation brings considerable uncertainties so postponement seems unavoidable. The procedure of this difficult decision can be read in more detail in my EAHM presidential letter.
The committee of the EAHM has therefore decided not to organise a congress in 2012. Instead, a European seminar will take place in Düsseldorf during MEDICA, like last year, combined with the 2012 General Assembly.
In 2013 we plan to hold our next EAHM congress in Luxembourg. We are grateful to our colleagues in Luxembourg who have offered their services. In addition to this positive development we will work closely with our Greek counterparts to find ways in which we can help. We hope that an opportunity will arise in the foreseeable future to hold an EAHM congress in Greece.
This issue of (E)Hospital brings the readers interesting contributions on the topical issues of outsourcing, social media, design and information technology. Each of these topics is important to hospital managers who must consider and implement these new developments. Our country focus comes from our friends in Austria this time.
I hope you all enjoy reading these interesting articles.
Heinz Kolking
President EAHM
