Wolfsburg's clinics in the storm: Cooperation for better patient care!

Wolfsburg's clinics in the storm: Cooperation for better patient care!

The healthcare landscape in northern Germany is facing exciting changes. In the city of Wolfsburg, Mayor Dennis Weilmann emphasized the importance of cooperation between the three municipal hospitals. This cooperation aims to optimize health services and use synergy effects to provide the population with the best possible care. An important step in this direction is the upcoming hospital reform, which will require all federal states to assign service groups for their hospitals by the end of 2026. In order for a hospital to successfully apply for its desired service groups, it is necessary to demonstrate the personnel, quality and equipment requirements at the location. What is particularly noteworthy is that hospitals must submit their applications by June 30, 2025 in order to benefit from this reform in a timely manner. Binding collaborations are essential, especially for services that cannot be provided at your own location. For example, an interventional cardiology department must work together with a cardiac surgery department to ensure comprehensive treatment options.

A prime example of successful collaboration is the Wolfenbüttel Municipal Clinic, which already maintains close cooperation with the obstetric clinic and neonatology department at the Braunschweig Municipal Clinic. This professional and organizational proximity is an important building block for improving local health care.

Hospital reform and its effects

The upcoming hospital reform will not only take collaboration between clinics to a new level, but will also bring with it a new financing system. With the introduction of the retention fee, payment is guaranteed for hospitals that need it, regardless of the services actually provided. As the Federal Ministry of Health explains, 60% of the current flat rates per case are secured through a reserve share, while the remaining 40% must be earned through the treatment cases. This means that hospitals that are assigned a performance group and meet quality criteria will benefit from this new regulation. At the same time, the full refinancing of care in these facilities remains unaffected, which is particularly important for care workers.

Furthermore, the members of the 129th German Medical Association are calling for a continuous review and adjustment of the performance group system and the retention remuneration. This shows how important it is that the reform remains sustainable and practical in the long term. It is particularly important to note that the need to reduce bureaucratic hurdles must not be lost sight of. The MPs are demanding, among other things, careful further development of quality assurance systems, relief from documentation and the consideration of personnel requirements in the financing of care and treatment.

Looking into the future

The hospital reform is intended not only to strengthen the financial stability of the facilities, but also to increase the crisis resilience of the clinics. Important structural measures for climate adaptation as well as investments in cybersecurity are planned to make the hospital infrastructure future-proof. This reform is a step in the right direction and could be the key to improving healthcare in Germany.

Overall, the desired close cooperation between the municipal hospitals in Wolfsburg and the upcoming reform process make it clear that there is a lot going on in health care. It remains to be seen how these changes will be reflected in daily practice. In any case, decision-makers are required to set the right course in order to provide people with optimal care.

For more information on the details of the reform, you can read the reporting from braunschweig.de, bundesgesundheitsministerium.de and bundesaerztekammer.de visit.