The University Medical Center Freiburg ''(Universitätsklinikum Freiburg)'' in
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau (; abbreviated as Freiburg i. Br. or Freiburg i. B.; Low Alemannic: ''Friburg im Brisgau''), commonly referred to as Freiburg, is an independent city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With a population of about 230,000 (as o ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
is the teaching hospital and part of the medical research unit of the
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg (colloquially german: Uni Freiburg), officially the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg (german: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg), is a public university, public research university located in Freiburg im Breisg ...
and home to its
Faculty of Medicine
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...
. The medical center is one of the
largest hospitals in Europe. Medical services at the University of Freiburg date back to the university's founding in 1457, as the Faculty of Medicine was one of the four founding faculties.
History
![UniKlinik (Freiburg) 4](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/UniKlinik_%28Freiburg%29_4.jpg)
The Faculty of Medicine was founded together with the University of Freiburg in 1457. In 1751, the medical faculty began charity medical activities and the first general clinic ''(Allgemeines Kranken-Spital)'' was established. In the 19th century a medical center was built, followed by an entire campus with different specialized departments. In 1887 the psychiatric clinic was constructed. In 1926 the architect Adolf Lorenz began building a modern hospital complex at the present hospital location. During the bombing raid of 1944, almost all medical center facilities were destroyed. In 1952 the reconstruction of the medical center in accordance with the original plans began. Since then, the medical center has continuously expanded and added many institutes and satellite clinics.
Patient care
Today, the hospital boasts 1,600 beds and treats 65,000 in-patients each year. Around 380,000 out-patients are seen annually. The University Medical Center employs approximately 10,000 people, including over 1,200 doctors and around 2,800 nurses.
As a tertiary care center and major European hospital, virtually all specialties and subspecialties are represented at the University Medical Center Freiburg. There are numerous large centers which bundle resources and expertise in order to provide optimal treatment, among them the aforementioned Cardiovascular Diseases Center Freiburg–Bad Krozingen, the Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, the Tumorzentrum Ludwig Heilmeyer - Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg, as well as the Liver Center Freiburg, the International Pancreas Carcinoma Center, the Neurocenter, the Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, or the Epilepsy Center.
Aside from the clinics and institutes, the Medical Center also houses extensive research facilities, many lecture halls, and even an own power station.
Recognition and affairs
Many medical breakthroughs have been achieved in Freiburg, such as the first use of the
TIPS procedure on a patient worldwide, the first implantation of the artificial heart ''Jarvik-2000'' in central Europe or the first combined
heart-lung transplantation in the state of
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million inhabitants across a ...
. In 2010, the Medical Center's International Pancreatic Cancer Center was the first in Germany to perform a
laparoscopic
Laparoscopy () is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) with the aid of a camera. The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions with a few small cuts in the abdomen.Medli ...
pancreaticoduodenectomy
A pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as a Whipple procedure, is a major surgical operation most often performed to remove cancerous tumours from the head of the pancreas. It is also used for the treatment of pancreatic or duodenal trauma, or chro ...
. All are procedures available only in a select few hospitals. In 2004, the University Medical Center Freiburg became the first clinic in Germany to perform a blood group incompatible kidney transplantation. With over 40 such transplantations to date, the University Medical Center Freiburg is one of the most experienced centers regarding this new procedure. The annual budget of the University Medical Center amounts to approximately EUR 600 million.
![Park UMC Freiburg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Park_UMC_Freiburg.jpg)
In March 2007 the university clinic's ''Tumorzentrum Ludwig Heilmeyer - Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF)'' was named an oncological center of excellence, one of the first four in Germany to be specially funded by the German Cancer Aid.
The University Medical Center Freiburg has recently set up a Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), selected to be funded with up to 50 Mio EUR over the next 5–10 years as an ''Integrated Research and Treatment Center'' by the
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (german: link=no, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, ), abbreviated BMBF, is a cabinet-level ministry of Germany. It is headquartered in Bonn, with an office in Berlin. The Ministry provi ...
. In 2010, the Medical Center decided to found a Comprehensive Lung Center with regards to the further increasing importance of lung diseases.
In April 2012 the Cardiovascular Center at the University Medical Center Freiburg fused with the Heart-Center
Bad Krozingen
Bad Krozingen (; Alemannic: ''Bad Chrotzige'') is a spa town in the district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 15 km southwest of Freiburg. In the 1970s, the previously independent villages Biengen, Hau ...
to form the Heart Center Freiburg University (Universitäres Herz- und Kreislaufzentrum Freiburg-Bad Krozingen) which has become the largest heart center in Germany.
The University Medical Center Freiburg is the largest hospital to be certified by the (de) (KTQ, Cooperation for Quality and Transparency in Healthcare), the most widespread certification procedure at German hospitals. The aim of KTQ is to make a voluntary certification procedure available to hospitals and to promote continuous improvement and internal quality management. The KTQ certification seal is valid for three years, after which a reevaluation must be performed. The University Medical Center was first certified in 2005 and recently recertified in 2008.
Education
The University Medical Center Freiburg is home to the University of Freiburg Faculty of Medicine, a top ranking German medical school, and is the faculty's primary teaching hospital. The Medical Center also possesses an Academy for Medical Professions (Akademie für Medizinische Berufe) including a
nursing school
Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ca ...
, a
physiotherapist
Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...
school, and a
midwifery
Midwifery is the health science and health profession that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (including care of the newborn), in addition to the sexual and reproductive health of women throughout their lives. In many cou ...
school.
International Medical Services & International Business Development
International Medical Services & International Business Development (short: IMS) was founded in 2000 by the Board of Directors of the University Medical Center Freiburg.
IMS offers services for foreign patients and their families who come for medical treatment to the University Medical Center Freiburg. The services include providing visa assistance and cost estimates, scheduling medical appointments, arranging interpreters and travel plans, processing final billing as well as other services. IMS also provides
telemedical services, such as teleradiology, teleconsultations and teleteaching as well as consulting services which include assistance with purchasing medical-technical equipment for hospitals, the conception and planning of hospital and rehabilitation unit upgrade projects. It also organizes workshops, seminars and teleteaching sessions for medical and administrative personnel. The IMS staff speaks several languages, including English and Russian.
Telemedical services
Communication with medical specialists takes place though specially encrypted Internet channels, securing patients' confidential medical data. This service allows patients to get a “second opinion” from a German physician without having to leave their home country. IMS also broadly utilizes this technology for teleteaching.
See also
*
List of hospitals in Germany
The following is a list of hospitals in Germany.
Hospitals
Defunct
* Friedrichs-Waisenhaus Rummelsburg
* Holy Spirit Hospital (Berlin)
References
https://www.newsweek.com/best-hospitals-2019/germany{{List of hospitals in Europe
German ...
References
External links
{{authority control
University of Freiburg
Hospitals established in the 15th century
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau (; abbreviated as Freiburg i. Br. or Freiburg i. B.; Low Alemannic: ''Friburg im Brisgau''), commonly referred to as Freiburg, is an independent city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With a population of about 230,000 (as o ...
Hospital buildings completed in 1887
Education in Freiburg im Breisgau
1450s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
1457 establishments in Europe
Buildings and structures in Freiburg im Breisgau
Medical and health organisations based in Baden-Württemberg