News, Austria, March 2009
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Live quality in Vienna – faster dates for surgeries
Waiting times for surgeries have been decreased significantly thanks to digital information systems.
In the hospitals of Vienna only medical criteria determine the assignment of a date for surgery. Since about one year a dedicated digital information system is coordinating the time schedules and registration for OR management. Therefore objectivity and transparency is guaranteed when it comes to managing time schedules for surgeries.
Today, Sonja Wehsely, city council for healthcare and social affairs is drawing a first conclusion: “The system did really pay off; waiting times for surgeries did shrink significantly.” For example at the hospital ‘Rudolfstiftung' in July 2008 a patient had to wait 53 days to get operated the intervertebral discs. Today patients only need to wait 35 days for such a surgery starting from the registration day to the moment of the surgery. The registration time for knee surgeries at the orthopaedic hospital ‘Gersthof' decreased by more than three weeks since last summer.
It is the urgency that defines the time schedule
The new time management is fully transparent and avoids double- or even more bookings. It is not possible to having a patient treated earlier than another due to personal motivations. The theme in the Vienna hospitals is: “Top medical care for anybody and humanity in first place”, said Sonia Wehsely.
Another action will tremendously shorten waiting times: the continual expansion of OR opening hours until late afternoon and evenings for treatments that can be planned far in advance.
Since exactly one year, OR registrations are managed electronically. The result is: all hospitals in Vienna are working with the new, transparent system; in many disciplines, patients are treated much more faster than before. www.wienkav.at
State of the art hospitals for Vienna's population
At Brünner Street in Florisdorf North of Vienna, from 2010 onwards, one of the most modern hospitals in Europe will be constructed. In the 850 beds hospital best medical treatment technologies with the highest possible patient comfort will be introduced. A building with a lot of daylight, nice colors and a view into the green nature will guarantee a nice atmosphere. 15 experts selected the project of architect Albert Wimmer among 38 projects. “The winning project brings state-of-the-art hospital architecture and will assure that high quality working conditions will be created here,” said Sonja Wehsely.