About Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos
The Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos is the largest healthcare institution in Lithuania. The Coordinating Center for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases (CCRUD) has been established in 2012 when the Hospital was nominated as one of the two tertiary centres in Lithuania responsible for the implementation of the Lithuanian National Plan on the Activities Related to Rare Diseases, developed according to the requirements set by European Commission.
CCRUD takes part in organizing and coordination of all activities in the field of rare diseases at the Hospital level in order to ensure qualified multidisciplinary healthcare services for patients with suspected or diagnosed rare disorders.
All clinical departments at the Hospital are providing services for children or adults with rare disorders as this a tertiary centre where most of complicated or undiagnosed cases are concentrated. In addition, 21 functional centers for groups of specific rare diseases have been established in accordance with special interests and experiences of the dedicated Hospital staff. This allows a more structured approach to certain groups of rare diseases in providing comprehensive multidisplinary care, scientific research, education of professionals, patients and community, collaboration at national and international level, etc. Close collaboration between pediatric and adult specialists allows smooth transition of childen with rare disorders from childhood to adult healthcare.
Five centres for specific rare diseases have been nominated as national reference centers for rare ophthalmological, dermatological, endocrine, neurosurgical, and gastroenterological disorders.
In 2017, Kauno klinikos received European Reference Network membership in four different medical networks: EURACAN, Endo-ERN, ERN-EYE, ERN-SKIN. Preparations for membership application in the field of rare hepatic diseases are on the way.