WHAT'S NEW? 
           
            LUNG CENTER BURNS DOWN   /   PATACSI OFFICE TRANSFERS 
         
          The Lung Center of the Philippines burnt down 16 May 1998.  The fire which started  at around 2:00 a.m. damaged 90% of the hospital resulting in the cessation of  all hospital operations. 

          Although rehabilitation of the hospital and resumption of hospital activities has been assured by the Department of Health, the actual timetable is still uncertain. 

          The relatively new  (c.Oct 1995) PATACSI  office at Rm 3013 was completely destroyed together with all the adjacent offices of chest organizations, i.e. PCCP, ACCP, BAPI, Lung Foundation.   All PATACSI office equipment , supplies, and current records were lost in the fire. Fortunately, many old records were salvaged because these were kept in a steel file cabinet in the veranda just outsside of the main office. 

          PATACSI will temporarily be housed at the Philippine Heart Center. Until further notice the address of the new office will be:
           

            Philippine Association of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons (PATACSI), Inc 
            Management Service Office, 2/F Medical Arts Building 
            Philippine Heart Center 
            East Avenue, Quezon City 
            Philippines 1100
                   
          The telephone account of PATACSI, Telefax (632) 929-3826 will be transferred to the new office as soon as possible. In the interim, the following contact numbers may be used: 
            Telephones:  928-6141 
                925-2401 (PHC Trunkline) Locals 3215-16
            Fax:             926-8792 or 920-1278 (CVS Office) 
            E-mail:         patacsi@skyinet.net
           JOINT PATACSI-PBTCVS WORKSHOP ON  ACCREDITATION AND  
                 CERTIFICATION 
                  Part III of 3 part Series.  Part I of the workshop series was conducted in 1996 and 
                  focused on the Formulation of Training Guidelines for all accredited training  
                  programs.  

                  Part II, conducted in 1997, focused on Accreditation and the Implementation of a  
                  Unified Three Year Training Program. 

                  This third workshop will focus on the process of re-accreditation of the existing 
          programs and possible accreditation of new training programs.  It will also focus on the process of  certifying graduates of accredited TCVS training programs and will include sessions on updates to improve the conduct of in-service examinations by PATACSI and individual training institutions as well as the certifying examinations of the PBTCVS. 
                  Final schedule: 11-12 July  1998 
                  Venue:  Holiday Inn Resort, Mimosa, Clark 
         

            1st  PATACSI GOLF INVITATIONAL 

          A fund raising activity to support the planned activities for the rest of the year and to reconstruct a new PATACSI Office is being organized for mid year 1998. 

          A golf tournament is being scheduled 29 July 1998 at the East Ridge Golf and Country Club at Antipolo, Rizal. 

          Details will be posted as soon as available.