The Emergency Department Today

Simon Silver – Laniado UK:

To begin, how would you describe the current Emergency Department?

Dr Michael Kogan:

The Emergency Department is a very active and central part of the hospital. We have a strong medical team and a dedicated staff, but the existing facilities were designed many years ago. The nature of emergency care has evolved significantly, both in terms of patient complexity and the expectations placed on emergency services and the department needs to evolve alongside that.

Professional Background

Simon Silver

Doctor, could you tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Laniado?

Dr Michael Kogan:

I began my medical career in 2014. I completed my residency in Internal Medicine at Sheba Medical Center, followed by a subspecialty in Emergency Medicine, which I completed in 2021.

After that, I worked as an attending physician in the Emergency Department at Sheba Hospital. In November, I was offered the role of Head of the Emergency Department here at Laniado, which is what brought me here.

Experience at Laniado

Simon Silver :

How has your experience been since joining Laniado, particularly compared to other hospitals?

Dr Michael Kogan:

Over the past few years, the Emergency Department had several different directors, which made it difficult to create continuity and long-term development.

When I arrived, one of my priorities was strengthening the academic and teaching structure for our residents — particularly mentorship, training, and professional development.

Staffing and Teaching Role

Simon Silver:

How many doctors are currently working in the department?

Dr Michael Kogan:

We have 12 residents and approximately 12 senior attending physicians. Around four or five of us work here full-time, with others contributing on a part-time basis.

Simon Silver:

So education is a central part of your role?

Dr Michael Kogan:

Absolutely. Laniado is a teaching hospital affiliated with Ariel University’s School of Medicine. We train medical students, residents, and nurses, and educating future clinicians is a core responsibility of the department.

National Recognition for ER Performance

Simon Silver:

Laniado recently ranked at the top nationally for Emergency Department response times. Can you tell us about that?

Dr Michael Kogan:

Each year, the Ministry of Health measures several performance indicators. One of the key measures is the time from a patient’s arrival to their first consultation with a doctor.

At Laniado, over 99% of patients are seen by a doctor within the first hour of arrival, the the highest results in the country. This reflects direct doctor patient contact, not just triage.

Planning the New Emergency Department

Simon Silver:

Are you involved in planning the new Emergency Department?

Dr Michael Kogan:

Yes. The plans are still being refined with architects and engineers. The goal is to design a department that will serve the community not just today, but for the next 20 to 25 years.

Every year we see a steady increase in patient numbers, and emergency medicine itself continues to evolve. The new Emergency Department will be significantly larger, purpose-built, and better equipped to meet future medical and technological demands.

This project also includes planning for staffing, equipment, and modern workflows, not just bricks and mortar.

What Makes Laniado Special

Simon Silver:

From your perspective, what makes Laniado special?

Dr Michael Kogan:

Laniado’s size creates a very strong sense of collaboration. The atmosphere between departments is personal and supportive, which allows multidisciplinary care to happen efficiently.

There is a real willingness among staff to work together for the benefit of patients, and that culture is one of the hospital’s greatest strengths.

Clinical Improvements and Vision

Simon Silver:

What changes have you already introduced?

Dr Michael Kogan:

One important change was reorganising how patients are treated in the main Emergency Department treatment area.

Instead of dividing patients by specialty, Emergency Department physicians now manage all cases within that area. This reflects modern emergency medicine practice and ensures doctors are trained comprehensively across medical, surgical, and trauma cases.

This approach strengthens the department clinically and improves training for residents.