The SI-N-CRO project addresses common challenges in the health sector within the program region, with the aim of promoting and strengthening cooperation between institutions and eliminating inequalities in health care for patients who have suffered a stroke. A unique stroke rehabilitation service in the cross-border area of the Coastal Karst region and Istria County is of critical importance.

The Interstate Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on cross-border cooperation in the provision of emergency medical care and hospital treatment, as well as the Administrative Agreement on cooperation in emergency medical care and hospital treatment (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 90, Ljubljana, 16 August 2023), emphasize the urgency of measures to address inequalities in care on both sides of the border and to ensure a unified and modern form of rehabilitation for patients.

 

The SI-N-CRO project will enable partner institutions on both sides of the border to upgrade existing medical equipment through the establishment of SMART rooms and provide education to healthcare professionals on the latest rehabilitation approaches for stroke patients. In the context of continued reductions in public funding, the project will contribute to more efficient and equitable healthcare delivery and the optimization of rehabilitation processes.

 

The set goal will be achieved by re-evaluating and upgrading cross-border rehabilitation programs developed in previous projects, such as MEMORI-net and X-BRAIN.net (Interreg Italy-Slovenia). Modern ICT equipment and new knowledge about the care of stroke patients will lead to the development of new strategic solutions through the SI-N-CRO project for the cross-border area of the Coastal-Karst Region and Istria County. Through the pilot measure, we will evaluate the strategic plan and developed bilingual protocols, collecting key data on the effectiveness of the program and ensuring its sustainable application and dissemination of acquired knowledge. In order to ensure the sustainable use of modern ICT equipment in stroke rehabilitation, the SI-N-CRO project will develop comprehensive e-learning tools for the education of clinical staff. Materials will be available in both official languages of the program region and designed to allow continuous updates and adaptations to new requirements, integration of additional equipment or improvement of rehabilitation protocols. This will ensure the long-term relevance, effectiveness and applicability of educational content in clinical practice.

 

One of the key objectives of the SI-N-CRO project is to disseminate improved knowledge among the professional and general public and to promote innovative rehabilitation approaches beyond the project boundaries. For this purpose, public events will be organized to which representatives of regional and national media, as well as interested citizens, will be invited. Such activities will be carried out throughout the project duration, thus ensuring greater visibility and long-term impact of the acquired knowledge.