News from Bethesda Hospital

The orthopaedic clinic at Bethesda Hospital was positively highlighted in an article in the consumer magazine Kassensturz on 4 March 2025. The reason for this is the recording of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), which measure the success of treatment from the patient's perspective.

The programme discussed the fact that although Switzerland has an expensive healthcare system, it does not always perform well when it comes to collecting quality data. PROMs are considered an important indicator as they directly reflect how patients are doing after treatment.

The Orthopaedics Clinic at Bethesda Hospital already actively uses these measurements, for example for shoulder operations. Patients regularly indicate how well they can use their shoulder again. This form of quality measurement offers a valuable addition to classic indicators such as complication or infection rates.

• Click here for the Kassensturz article
• More information on PROMS

The "Day of the Sick" has a firm place in Switzerland's annual calendar and will take place for the 86th time this year on 2 March. Numerous organisations take part with visits, gifts and events to support sick people and those in need of care.

Bethesda Hospital is also setting an example of solidarity: our patients receive a sweet surprise and we invite them to an ecumenical church service. This will be broadcast via livestream at bethesda-spital.ch/gottesdienst.

Every year, the American news magazine "Newsweek" selects the best hospitals in the world. This year, over 2400 hospitals in 30 countries were assessed - and Bethesda Hospital was once again successfully included.

For the fifth time in a row, Bethesda Hospital has achieved a very good ranking among the top hospitals in Switzerland. As in the previous year, it also achieved an excellent 13th place in 2025. This repeated recognition for 2025 is a great confirmation of our ongoing commitment to healthcare and emphasises the consistently high quality of our work.

The ranking is based on a comprehensive evaluation process, including an online survey of thousands of medical experts, patient experience data and hospital quality metrics.

Click here for the ranking

Bethesda Hospital in Basel welcomed Alma Fernando, the first baby of 2025, on 1 January 2025 at 00:31 .
The proud parents and the baby are doing well. To date, on 2 January 2025, 10 babies have already seen the light of day in our hospital - and the 11th baby is on the way.
Bethesda Hospital enjoys an excellent reputation far beyond the borders of the canton for its comprehensive care during pregnancy and birth. Becoming a mother is one of the most fascinating experiences in a woman's life. We support expectant parents from the beginning of pregnancy to the birth with competent medical care and personalised support at eye level.
At Bethesda Hospital, we combine the highest medical standards with a familiar atmosphere that gives expectant parents and their babies the best possible start in life.

Further information at bethesda-spital.ch/birth
Link to our baby gallery

We are delighted to announce that the relocation of the Hildegard Palliative Care Centre to Bethesda Hospital has been successfully completed. Around 80 employees and our patients have found their new home at Bethesda. With this step, we are officially expanding the portfolio of Bethesda Hospital and together we are creating a modern, appreciative space for specialised palliative care in north-western Switzerland.

The Bethesda Hospital Palliative Care Centre stands for holistic, multi-professional care that always focuses on your needs and those of your family and loved ones. We combine highly specialised medical care with individual, human warmth - both as inpatients and through our mobile palliative care team.

With the integration of the former Hildegard Palliative Care Centre, we benefit from almost 40 years of experience and expertise in palliative care. This wealth of experience forms the basis for providing our patients with the best possible quality of life and supporting them in their individual phase of life.

We would like to thank all staff, patients and relatives for their support and patience during the move. Your co-operation has enabled us to make this important step a success.

Visit our website to find out more about our offers and services, order one of our newly designed brochures or contact us directly. We are here for you.

-

Contact:
Bethesda Hospital, Palliative Care Centre,
Gellertstrasse 144, 4052 Basel
Phone: +41 61 315 29 30
E-mail: palliativzentrum@bethesda-spital.notexisting@nodomain.comch
www.bethesda-spital.ch/palliativzentrum

Our Clinic for Rheumatology and Pain Medicine has enriched the current issue of Rheuma Switzerland with exciting clinical cases. This specialist journal, which reaches medical specialists throughout Switzerland, highlights important non-autoimmune pathomechanisms in its latest issue.

Of the seven cases presented, five are from our dedicated doctors:

• "When the vertebra breaks and it glows in the dark" (Pract. med. Roxanne Villiger, Pract. med. Matteo Gusberti)

• "A wolf in sheep's clothing " - Increasing back pain (Pract. med. Sinthuri Subramaniam, Pract. med. Hagena Thuraisingam, Dr med. Priska Wagner)

• "A nest in the bone - a forest of differential diagnoses" (Pract. med. Greta Roland, Dr med. Anna Thoma)

• "Ischialgiform pain and foot drop paresis: When the root of the problem is not the root" (Nicola Häni, MD, Prof. Stephan Gadola, MD)

• "Recurrent "acute on chronic" lumbospondylogenic pain syndrome in an unusual manifestation of a common disease" (Pract. med. Hagena Thuraisingam, Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Stephan Gadola)

The publication is a sign of recognition for the high level of expertise of our team and offers referring physicians valuable insights for their daily practice.

Rheuma Switzerland is published with a circulation of 5000 copies and reaches a broad specialist audience - an opportunity to make our expertise visible beyond the clinic.

Find out more about our Clinic for Rheumatology and Pain Medicine here.

Bethesda Hospital was recently awarded 3 stars in the EFQM assessment! This recognition emphasises our continuous striving for excellence and the high quality of our services.

Particular strengths that were emphasised in the assessment:

• Systematic referral management: clearly structured referral management strengthens collaboration with our partners and ensures optimal patient care.
  
• Advanced digitalisation : Through our digitalisation projects - many of which have already been implemented - we are creating a modern and efficient infrastructure that brings tangible benefits for both our patients and our medical team.
  
• Commitment of our employees: Despite major challenges in projects and financial framework conditions, our employees from all professional groups are prepared to go the extra mile.
  
• High value placed on training and further education: The focus on continuous further training is an integral part of our organisational culture and is reflected in our high quality of treatment.

Our special thanks go to our employees, our affiliated doctors and all partners and stakeholders who have contributed to this success through their commitment. Together, we are committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred care and are actively helping to shape the future of Bethesda Hospital.

Thank you very much for your support and trust!

Our new computed tomography device, the SOMATOM X.cite from Siemens, has been in operation since mid-October. This state-of-the-art diagnostic device offers tangible benefits for our patients thanks to the Vectron® X-ray tube and AI-supported imaging:

Advantages for our patients

The SOMATOM X.cite sets new standards in CT diagnostics and brings numerous improvements for the comfort and safety of our patients:

• Extended opening of the CT: The larger opening of the device creates more space and is particularly comfortable for people with claustrophobia. This makes the examination more relaxed and less stressful.
  
• Gentler examination thanks to optimised radiation dose: Thanks to the innovative Vectron® X-ray tube, radiation exposure is reduced to a minimum. This means a safer examination with fewer health risks.
  
• Shorter examination times: Shorter examination times mean that our patients receive results more quickly and have to remain still for less time - which further increases comfort.
  
• Reduced amount of contrast medium: Modern imaging technology makes it possible to reduce the amount of contrast medium required, which makes the examination more pleasant and easier to tolerate.

Further information on radiology

Dr Henrik Sjöström, Head Physician at the Department of Anaesthesiology, was elected President of the ICAN section of the SGUM. He promotes quality and further training in intensive care medicine, surgery and emergency medicine - and is also involved in the tariff committee for the ultrasound tariff.

About Dr Henrik Sjöström
To the Anaesthesiology Clinic

Bethesda Hospital Basel has once again been recognised in the "World's Best Specialised and Smart Hospitals 2025" rankings. The hospital achieved 85th place worldwide in the neurosurgery/spinal surgery category, making it the second best-ranked hospital in Switzerland. Bethesda Hospital is also one of the 350 best "Smart Hospitals" worldwide. These awards emphasise the outstanding quality and innovative strength of our hospital.

Further information on the award

Eckehart Schöll has been working as Medical Director of the Bethesda Emergency Department since 1 September 2024. With extensive expertise in anaesthesiology and pain therapy, he enriches the team and strengthens the care of our patients.

Further information about the emergency department

Bethesda Hospital is delighted to be part of the newly founded rehabilitation network in north-west Switzerland! In collaboration with the University Hospital Basel and seven other rehabilitation institutions, we are working to optimise the treatment processes for patients after hospitalisation.

Our common goal: faster and easier referral to the right rehabilitation centre so that our patients receive even better care. We are proud to be part of this important initiative, which is supported by scientific expertise.

The decision in favour of palliative therapy does not mean that life is coming to an end. However, palliative care is often understood in common parlance as "treatment in the last weeks of life", which is not quite true. teleBasel accompanied the deputy head physician Dr Karin Jaroslawski for a day in the palliative care centre and shows what happens in a palliative care centre.

P.S.: The programme was recorded in the old premises of the previous Hildegard Palliative Care Centre. The content and procedures at the Bethesda Hospital Palliative Care Centre are identical.

To the programme Diagnosis from 21.06.2023

"Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care."

Every year on 12 May, we celebrate International Nurses Day in memory of Florence Nightingales - the pioneer of modern nursing.
This day focuses on the essential, professional work of nurses to emphasise their central role in healthcare.

On this day, the achievements and tireless efforts of our carers are recognised.

Today we celebrate our carers and say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts

• Our nursing staff and healthcare professionals in the departments
• Our nursing experts in specialist and practice development
• To our department heads who lead their teams through stormy times
• Our vocational training managers and vocational trainers, who support and accompany our apprentices and students in their practical training
• Our experts in the areas of anaesthesia, operating theatre and OB
• Our breast care nurses
• All future carers
• Our students and trainees

In these turbulent times with high dynamics of change, you show the ability to endure, to persevere and to carry on with perseverance as well as immense flexibility.

This strength to focus, to dedicate yourselves empathetically and competently to our patients, pregnant women, women who have recently given birth and newborn babies, as well as all their relatives, and to meet them with an emotional presence, is what sets you apart.

Your performance fills us with pride!

Let us continue to trust in our strengths and face the future with confidence, because confidence is the certainty that everything can be renewed.

On these pages, we offer you an insight into our achievements, successes and developments over the past financial year. 2023 was a special year, as we celebrated Bethesda's 100th anniversary. In 1923, a number of deaconesses opened a house on Steinenring in Basel dedicated to nursing care. This was the beginning of what is now Bethesda Hospital. The anniversary was duly celebrated with various activities.

You can find the 2023 annual report here

We will be happy to send you a printed version on request. Please click on this link.

We wish you an inspiring read.

On 5 May 2024, we will celebrate International Midwives Day with the theme "Midwives: A Vital Climate Solution". This day recognises the vital role that midwives play in healthcare and their commitment to sustainable practice.

Our midwives at Bethesda Hospital make an essential contribution to the health of mothers and children by providing low-intervention obstetric care. This practice not only protects mother and child, but also protects the environment. Comprehensive care during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period also strengthens the mental and physical health of mothers. Promoting breastfeeding also supports the long-term health of newborn babies and helps to conserve resources.

Today we would like to emphasise the important work of our midwives and thank them for their commitment!

We are delighted to welcome Dr Maria Kamenova to Bethesda Hospital as Head of Spinal Surgery. Dr Kamenova is a FMH specialist in neurosurgery and a specialist in the field of spinal surgery.

Mrs Kamenova completed her specialist training as a neurosurgeon at the University Hospital Basel under the direction of Prof Luigi Mariani. She has gained valuable experience in the field of spinal surgery since founding the interdisciplinary Department of Spinal Surgery at the University Hospital Basel, where she was promoted to senior consultant in 2020 under Prof Stefan Schären. Dr Kamenova specialises in minimally invasive spinal surgery and the treatment of intradural and intramedullary pathologies. During a clinical fellowship at the Schön Klinik München Harlaching in 2022, she was able to focus in particular on learning endoscopically guided spinal surgery.

Maria Kamenova obtained the interdisciplinary specialisation in spinal surgery (SGS) and is also a certified medical assessor (SIM). In recent years, she has also been a consultant physician for REHAB Basel and the Basel Pain Clinic.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr Kamenova has successfully completed numerous scientific publications and acquired research funding in recent years. She continues to lead various projects, supervises master's and doctoral students and organises courses for medical students. She has been a private lecturer (PD) in neurosurgery at the University of Basel since 2024.

PD Dr Maria Kamenova will represent spinal surgery at Bethesda Hospital together with Dr Oliver Fiebig and Dr Stephan Schön from 1 May 2024.

We wish Mrs Kamenova a good start at #TeamBethesda!

We are very pleased to inform you that Cyrill Voegelin has joined us. Mr Voegelin will become the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Bethesda Hospital from 1.5.24, replacing Gilles Hirt as CFO. Cyrill Voegelin will become a member of the hospital management at the same time as taking up the post.

Mr Voegelin has worked at the University Hospital Basel for the last 10 years, most recently as Department Manager Breast, Abdomen and Pelvis and previously as Clinic Manager Urology and Division Controller Surgery. Cyrill Voegelin has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of clinic management, project management, controlling, finance and administration and holds an MSc in Business and Economics from the University of Basel (2016) and an MAS in Corporate Finance (CFO) from the FHNW (2023).

We warmly welcome Cyrill Voegelin to #teambethesda and wish him a good start, fulfilment and happiness at Bethesda Hospital.

In a recent episode of the programme GesundheitHeute, the topic of fibromyalgia was discussed. In an exclusive interview, Michael Gengenbacher, Chief Medical Officer of Bethesda Spital AG, shared important insights and expert tips on treating this common condition.

Fibromyalgia is known for its complexity and treatment challenges. Gengenbacher emphasised that there is currently no specific treatment for fibromyalgia. Nevertheless, he emphasised that there are various ways to help sufferers and improve their quality of life.

Click here for the article and interview.

Bethesda Hospital is pleased to announce an important change in our medical team: From 1 January 2024, Oliver Fiebig, MD, will take over as Head of the Department of Spinal Surgery.

Dr Fiebig, who has been Deputy Head Physician at our hospital since July 2022, brings with him extensive experience and expertise in the field of spinal surgery. As an FMH specialist in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system, Dr Fiebig has established himself as a leading expert in his field.

His professional career has taken him from the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil under Dr Patrick Moulin to the Cantonal Hospital of Graubünden in Chur and the University Hospital Basel. He worked there from 2008 to 2021 in various roles, including in traumatology, the surgical emergency ward and most recently for 10 years in spinal surgery, initially under Professor Bernhard Jeanneret and from 2014 under Professor Stefan Schären.

Commitment to patient care

In his role as Head Physician, Dr Fiebig will not only contribute his extensive specialist knowledge, but also his many years of experience in patient care. His commitment to the continuous improvement of medical care and his focus on the individual needs of patients will contribute significantly to the further development of spinal surgery at Bethesda Hospital.

Under his leadership and in close collaboration with Dr Stephan Schön, Bethesda Hospital will continue to offer spinal surgery at the highest level. We are convinced that Dr Fiebig will be a valuable asset to our hospital in his new role and a key figure in the continuation and improvement of our services.

Dr Juliet Kahnt is leaving Bethesda Hospital

After around three years of dedicated and patient-focused work at Bethesda Hospital, Dr Juliet Kahnt has decided to end her role as Head of Spinal Surgery at Bethesda Hospital at the end of 2023 and set up her own practice (Spine Centre Northwestern Switzerland, www.wznw.ch). We are very grateful to Dr Kahnt for her professionally and personally competent work and her tireless commitment, wish her all the best for the future and are delighted that she will be working as an attending physician at our hospital in the future.

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Spinal surgery at Bethesda Hospital

• Monday to Friday 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00
• +41 61 315 25 25
• wirbelsaeule@bethesda-spital.notexisting@nodomain.comch
• To the clinic for spinal surgery
• Book an appointment online

Some accidents to the knee, shoulder, elbow, hip and foot can be very painful and require rapid initial treatment by a specialist.

For this reason, we are pleased to announce that from 1 September 2023 we will be offering orthopaedic primary care without prior appointment. The service will be available to patients daily, from Monday to Sunday, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. at the Orthopaedics Clinic Permanence at Bethesda Hospital.

We are delighted to be able to supplement our services with this offer and are convinced that this will enable us to meet the needs of our patients even better.

Orthopaedics Clinic at Bethesda Hospital

The Orthopaedics Clinic at Bethesda Hospital, which is run by the University Hospital, has seen a steady increase in the number of inpatients and outpatients since it opened in 2019. At the clinic, we offer university medical treatment at the highest level, combined with the personal atmosphere of Bethesda Hospital.

To the offer

The Rheumatology Clinic is pleased to announce that, following a successful review by the Swiss Institute for Continuing Medical Education and Training (SIWF), it has been re-certified as a training centre for rheumatology and internal medicine.

To the news

Queridos futuros padres

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From top left to bottom right: Jana Zysset, Healthcare Specialist EFZ (in rank); Lea Poffet, Healthcare Specialist EFZ; Lara Stijlen, Healthcare Specialist EFZ; Livia Amport, Healthcare Specialist EFZ with vocational baccalaureate; Lara Beqiri, Healthcare Specialist EFZ with vocational baccalaureate (in rank); Eleonora Fusco, Businesswoman EFZ with vocational baccalaureate; Janice Meyer, Healthcare Specialist EFZ

Not in the picture: Nic Müller, cook EFZ; Zsolt Krisztian Fodor, cook EFZ

We are very proud of you and wish you all the best for the future!

We are delighted to announce that Gilles Hirt has joined the company. Mr Hirt will become the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 1 September 2023, replacing Philippe Salathé as CFO. Gilles Hirt will become a member of the hospital management at the same time as taking up the position.

Gilles Hirt was most recently Head of Tariffs at H+ die Spitäler der Schweiz and previously Head of IT/Finance & Administration at Forel Klinik AG. Gilles Hirt has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of tariff management, project management, IT, controlling, finance and administration. In his professional career, he has been able to get to know the various professional groups and organisations of different acute care, psychiatric and rehabilitation clinics from different perspectives.

We warmly welcome Gilles Hirt to #TeamBethesda and wish him a good start, fulfilment and happiness at Bethesda Hospital.

A new Board of Directors was elected for the Rheumaliga beider Basel at the General Assembly on 16 May 2023. The members unanimously elected: Prof. Dr Stephan Gadola, Head of Rheumatology & Pain Medicine at Bethesda Hospital, Basel (President), My To-Siegrist, pharmacist and member of the Rheumaliga Schweiz Council of Patients, and Dr Hans-Dieter Hüllstrung, rheumatologist FMH, rheumaliestal.

Prof Gadola on his election: "I am very much looking forward to working for people affected by rheumatism. The role of the Rheumaliga is all the more important at a time when rheumatologist care is becoming scarcer. Only together can good care for those affected be ensured in the future."

What exactly is rheumatism?

Two million people with rheumatism live in Switzerland. "Rheumatism" is a collective term for over 200 different diseases that have different causes. What they have in common is that they primarily manifest themselves in the connective and supporting tissue of the musculoskeletal system, i.e. in the bones, joints or soft tissue. Those affected struggle with chronic pain and restrictions in their everyday lives. Rheumatism can affect people of all ages.

About the Rheumaliga

The services offered by the Rheumaliga help to make it easier for sufferers and their relatives to deal with rheumatism. The board members of the Rheumaliga work on a voluntary basis and the organisation has been awarded the ZEWO seal of approval, thus ensuring that donations are handled conscientiously.

The new board from left to right:

The new President of the Rheumaliga beider Basel - Prof. Dr med. Dr rer. nat. Stephan Gadola - is Head Physician at the Rheumatology & Pain Medicine Clinic at Bethesda Hospital. He is a specialist in internal medicine FMH and rheumatology FMH and holds certificates in pain medicine (SSIPM) and musculoskeletal sonography (ultrasound; SGUM). Prof Gadola can look back on over 20 years of clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of complex musculoskeletal conditions.

Mrs My To-Siegrist is a pharmacist, works as a communications specialist in a scientific foundation and is a member of the Rheumaliga's Council of Patients.

Dr Hans-Dieter Hüllstrung has worked as an expert for the Swiss Rheumatism League since 2010 and was formerly deputy head of rheumatology and head of rehabilitation at Bethesda Hospital.

The "International Nurses Day" takes place annually on 12 May: The day was established in 1965 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), an association of 130 national nursing organisations. 12 May is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is regarded as the pioneer of modern nursing.

There is hardly any other profession that allows such interpersonal closeness and interaction with the person being cared for. Nursing is a high-quality service, in the sense of a modern service society, which offers and requires basic trust. (from Professional Pride in Nursing)

We take this day as an opportunity to honour the inestimable value of professional carers.
Carers work in various settings at Bethesda Hospital:

Competent, Responsible, Empathetic

Today we are celebrating all care professionals:

• Nursing staff and healthcare professionals on the wards
• Nursing staff in the functional areas of anaesthesia, operating theatre and OMS
• Nursing experts in professional and practice development
• Breast care nurses in counselling
• Heads of department in leadership and management
• Vocational training managers, vocational trainers and trainers in supporting our trainees
• And the students and apprentices. They are the future

Our claim: Good care. At all times

Thank you for achieving the best care results for our patients every day!

The annual report provides a look behind the scenes of the organisation and also sheds light on the people behind the figures. We are delighted to present the 2022 Annual Report of Bethesda Spital AG.
In order to conserve resources, we will no longer be sending out annual reports in paper form in future. However, you can download the document to your PC, tablet or smartphone using the QR code or the corresponding link. If you would like to receive a printed paper version, please let us know at
bethesda.ch/report2022
Thank you for your interest and we wish you an enjoyable read.

• Click here for the annual report

Today we are celebrating our midwives for their valuable work!

Midwives support pregnant women, newborns, mothers and families in an extremely sensitive phase of life.

The Bernese filmmaker Leila Kühni has brought an emotional documentary film about the work of midwives to Swiss cinemas. Several Bethesda midwives took part in this 90-minute documentary. The film "Hebammen - Auf die Welt kommen" shows various midwives who accompany women and their partners during pregnancy and birth.

The film will be shown in a shortened version on SRF Swiss Radio and Television 1 on Mother's Day, Sunday 14 May at 22:45.

Further broadcast dates:can be found here: https: //www.fernsehserien.de/srf-dok/folgen/hebammen-auf-die-welt-kommen-1643782

The cinema version can be streamed via VOD:

• www.myfilm.ch

The Diakonat Bethesda Basel association was founded by deaconesses in 1923. The Bethesda Basel Diaconate Foundation, an independent organisation of the Evangelical Methodist Church (EMK) in Switzerland, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

For decades, the Bethesda Hospital in Basel was the main focus of its work. Today, in addition to the hospital, the diaconate also works with retirement centres in the cantons of Zurich, Aargau, Basel-Stadt, Glarus and Thurgau.

Download media release

Link to the anniversary website

LINK TO THE LIVESTREAM
Festive service in the Gellert Church in Basel
28. April 2023 at 2.00 pm
Link to the livestream

CONTACT
Walter Wilhelm
Head of Diaconia and Pastoral Care
+41 61 315 24 76
w.notexisting@nodomain.comwilhelm@bethesda-stiftung.notexisting@nodomain.comch

Our head physician for rheumatology and pain medicine, Prof. Dr Stephan Gadola, has successfully obtained the SSIPM certificate in pain therapy.

doctors who have acquired this interdisciplinary specialisation have comprehensive training and further training in the field of pain medicine.
They must also have carried out a certain number of interventions themselves or have been involved in the interventions in a teaching capacity. The certificate must be recertified every five years.
You can find more information on the complex requirements of the SSIPM here: https://www.ssipm.ch/faehigkeitsausweis

We would like to congratulate Prof Gadola on this certificate of quality!

We are pleased to announce that the Orthopaedics Clinic at Bethesda Hospital has been recognised as an AGA-EDUCATION CENTER thanks to the commitment of AGA faculty members. The clinic is already listed as an Education Centre on the AGA website: AGA-EDUCATION CENTER

We are delighted that Dr Anzhela Albrecht (pictured left) and Dr Susanna Van den Borne (pictured right) have agreed to our proposal to promote them to Head of the Department of Gynaecology. The promotion came into effect on 1 January 2023.

We congratulate you warmly and wish you much joy and happiness in your new challenge.

An independent study team from Switzerland, England, Germany and India, led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Stephan Gadola (Bethesda Hospital, Basel) , investigated the efficacy of the well-known antibiotic doxycycline in 387 hospitalised COVID-19 patients at high risk of severe progression in a randomised, controlled multicentre study.

The impressive results of the study were recently published in PLoS ONE, a high-ranking scientific journal. (Click here for the link).

The "low-budget" study was conducted under very difficult circumstances during the deadly second COVID-19 wave in India. The study found that doxycycline reduced the proportion of patients who progressed to severe disease requiring transfer to an intensive care unit by 43% (P = 0.007).

Doxycycline is an oral, globally available, safe and cost-effective antibiotic with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Based on the study results, doxycycline could be an effective option to reduce the burden of COVID-19 on patients, healthcare systems and the economy.

• Here you can find the study as pdf

The requirements for members of THE SWISS LEADING HOSPITALS are extremely high. During the strict admission and recertification process, quality management, the medical accreditation process, medical care, nursing standards, the hotel business and administrative and infrastructural matters are all scrutinised. Bethesda Hospital has now been successfully recertified for the 7th time in a row.

To the news item

At the beginning of November, Dr Samuel Schluep from AEH, Centre for Occupational Medicine, Ergonomics and Hygiene AG, conducted the H+ audit on occupational health and safety at our company.
The participants of the SIKO (Safety Commission) were asked about various criteria and the accompanying documents were checked.

Overall, 90% of the criteria were met and thus achieved the rating "fulfilled". During the on-site inspection in the ward room, room service office, offices and adjoining rooms, the employees surveyed provided clear and correct answers to all of our auditor's questions.

The few complaints are now being processed and actively implemented.
We at Bethesda Hospital are very proud to have successfully passed this audit.
Further information can be found at: https: //www.hplus.ch/de/arbeitssicherheit

In October 2022, the Basel-Stadt cantonal laboratory collected and analysed ten samples of pool water in ten different indoor swimming pools. Only two samples proved to be flawless. One of the two indoor pools that passed the quality test was the therapy pool at Bethesda Hospital.

The water was tested for trihalomethanes, urea, combined chlorine, bromate, chlorate and bacteria. The flawless water quality at Bethesda Hospital is no coincidence: the water quality of the therapy pool is tested every morning and evening. In addition, filters are flushed weekly and tested quarterly by an external laboratory.

The therapy pool at Bethesda Hospital is available to our physiotherapy and rehabilitation patients as well as for our popular baby swimming sessions.

Our courses in the therapy pool

Press release from the Basel-Stadt Department of Health

We are delighted to announce that Ueli Zehnder has joined us. Mr Zehnder will become the new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Bethesda Hospital from 1 March 2023, replacing Ms Susanne Hafner as CHRO ad interim. Mr Zehnder will become a member of the hospital management at the same time as taking up the post.

Mr Zehnder was most recently Head of HR Services at the Insel Group, Berne, and previously Head of HR Services at Baden Cantonal Hospital. In addition to his Master of Business Administration (MBA), he completed his training as an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) with a focus on management and leadership.

We warmly welcome Ueli Zehnder to #TeamBethesda and wish him a good start, fulfilment and happiness at Bethesda Hospital.

As part of the intensified partnership between the USB and Bethesda Hospital, we are pleased to announce that we have found an ideal successor in Prof. Dr Rainer Schäfert, USB Head of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychiatry, and USB Senior Consultant Dr Alexander Frick, following the professional reorientation of our esteemed Head of the Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychiatry Clinic, Dr Marco Bachmann. The two doctors will manage the Psychosomatics and Psychiatry Clinic at Bethesda Hospital ad interim from October 2022 and in parallel with the Psychosomatics Clinic at the USB until further notice.

We are delighted to have found a cooperative and future-oriented solution with a lot of potential for further development in collaboration with the USB. Our joint services with a focus on psychosomatics will be sustainably strengthened by the two locations, which will have a positive effect for our patients as well as for you as a medical partner.

We warmly welcome Prof Schäfert and Dr Frick and wish them both a good start and every success with us at Bethesda Hospital.

To the Psychosomatics and Psychiatry Clinic at Bethesda Hospital

To the Psychosomatics and Psychiatry Clinic at the USB

We are delighted to welcome Henrik Pfahler, MD, EMBA HSG, to Bethesda Hospital as the future Chief Operating Officer (COO). Dr Pfahler will take up his role on 1 January 2023, succeeding Rebekka Hatzung, who will be leaving the company at the end of the year. Mr Pfahler will become a member of the hospital management at the same time as taking up his new position.

For the past four years, Mr Pfahler has been Head of the Management Staff and a member of the Hospital Management at the University Hospital Basel. In addition to heading the Corporate Development and Marketing and Communication department, he was also a member of the "Reorganisation" steering committee.

After completing his doctorate in 2010, Mr Pfahler continued his education on a regular basis, including completing an Executive MBA at the University of St. Gallen in 2015.

We warmly welcome Henrik Pfahler to #TeamBethesda and wish him a good start, lots of energy and fulfilment in his new role at Bethesda Hospital.

We are very pleased about the SSIPM re-certification of the Rheumatism/Pain Clinic. The Interventional Pain Therapy qualification is a specialised training course for the treatment of pain.

Learn more

In the ranking of the American news magazine "Newsweek", Bethesda Hospital appears in two categories of the "World's Best Hospitals 2023".

Having already achieved a very good rating in last year's assessment, Bethesda Hospital is extremely pleased to now appear on the shortlist in two categories. The assessment is based on analyses of patient surveys, quality measurements and interviews with nurses, doctors and other health care professionals.

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We are pleased to announce that Mr Philippe Salathé, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will take over as deputy to the CEO, Thomas Rudin, from 1 October 2022. Mr Salathé will take over from Rebekka Hatzung, who will be leaving the company at the end of the year.

Philippe Salathé studied economics and completed the "Bachelor of Sciences in Business Administrations" and "MAS Corporate Finance CFO" programmes. Mr Salathé has been Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Bethesda Hospital since March 2022.

Previously, Mr Salathé held various business management positions at the Cantonal Hospital Baselland and the University Hospital Basel.

"I am delighted to be able to support #teambethesda as Deputy CEO under the leadership of Thomas Rudin and, together with #teamUSB, to actively help shape the healthcare region of Northwestern Switzerland sustainably and successfully."
Philippe Salathé, CFO, Deputy CEO, Member of the Hospital Management Board

We congratulate Mr Salathé on his promotion and wish him every success and fulfilment in his new position.

Following approval by the Competition Commission, the University Hospital Basel and Bethesda Spital Basel have taken the necessary legal steps to finalise their deepened partnership.

The Swiss Federal Competition Commission (COMCO) has declared the acquisition of 60% of the shares in Bethesda Spital AG by the USB to be unobjectionable, without imposing any conditions. With the transfer of the majority of shares in Bethesda Spital AG to the University Hospital Basel (USB), the two hospitals legally finalised their deepened partnership yesterday, Thursday.

At the same time, the new Board of Directors of Bethesda Spital AG took up its duties. Since the public announcement of the closer co-operation, intensive planning has been going on behind the scenes for four months. Among other things, the medical offering is currently being finalised in detail.

To the press release

Dr Hansjörg Huemer, Head of Gynaecology and Head of the Clinic for Women's Medicine, will be leaving Bethesda Hospital at the end of September 2022. He will take over Dr Allemann's practice in Reinach and will continue to work at Bethesda Hospital as an attending physician.

We have found an internal solution for the overall management of the Women's Medicine Clinic: Our two head physicians Dr Bernd Gerresheim, Head of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, and Dr Jörg Humburg, Head of the Bladder and Pelvic Floor Centre, will take over as co-heads ad interim from 1 October 2022.

We would like to congratulate them both and thank them for taking this responsible step. We wish them much fulfilment and success in their new roles.

We wish Dr Hansjörg Huemer every success in his new role and thank him warmly for his great commitment to Bethesda Hospital.

Our annual report provides a look behind the scenes of the organisation and also sheds light on the people behind the figures. To conserve resources, we will no longer be sending out annual reports in paper form in future.

To the annual report 2022

The University Hospital Basel and Bethesda Spital have enjoyed a long and successful partnership. This is now being consolidated through the University Hospital Basel's participation in Bethesda Spital AG. Patients and staff will benefit from the pooling of expertise between the two hospitals. This further development will strengthen university medicine in the Basel region in the long term.

The two hospitals have been working closely and successfully together for several years in orthopaedics and other specialist areas. This collaboration has proven itself beyond all expectations and demonstrates that the strengths of the two hospitals complement each other perfectly. As close partners, they will in future jointly fulfil their responsibility for the health of the population and for all their employees.

To the press release

The everyday life of midwives takes place on the threshold where new life is born and sometimes life fades away. Leila Kühni gently accompanies midwives who look after couples during pregnancy and labour. They all have a common goal: a healthy mother and a healthy child. The film gives an intimate insight into the most natural thing in human history. It still fascinates us today, on the one hand as a miracle, on the other as a high-risk medical event. Without judgement, Leila Kühni succeeds in juxtaposing different values and needs. This makes "Hebammen - Auf die Welt kommen" a great film about life.

We are proud to be part of this wonderful cinema film.

To the website "hebammenfilm"

To the blog post with interview

As the digital transformation progresses, the communication channels with which Bethesda Hospital would like to appear more prominently in future are also changing.

The previous application of the visual identity was visibly outdated and no longer met the new, digital challenges
and no longer met the new, digital challenges. It was therefore time to further develop the
Bethesda brand visually.

Based on the visual and strategic mission statement "Focus on people", a corporate design was created that allows us to work flexibly and versatilely, as well as to achieve a high recognition value both online and offline.

All of Bethesda Hospital's communication materials will appear in the new look over the course of the year.

Do you like our new look? We look forward to your feedback at marketing@bethesda-spital.notexisting@nodomain.comch

The Director of Bethesda Hospital in the "Wirtschaft on Air" podcast organised by the Basel Chamber of Commerce and Prime News on leadership and entrepreneurship in the highly regulated healthcare sector.

Thomas Rudin has been in charge of Basel's Bethesda Hospital for over ten years. A task with many challenges - and a dilemma: on the one hand, the private healthcare institution is committed to serving society, on the other hand, it is obliged to be in the black.

How does Thomas Rudin master this balancing act as Bethesda Director? How much entrepreneurship is even possible in the heavily regulated healthcare sector? What is the situation in nursing care and what are his management principles when dealing with the hospital's 750 employees?

christian Keller talks about these topics in the latest edition of "Wirtschaft on Air".

To the podcast

"Wirtschaft on Air" is published once a month and is a co-operation between Prime News and the Basel Chamber of Commerce. The interview is recorded in a gondola of the Wasserfallen cable car in Reigoldswil.

The 2nd Psychosocial Health Day will take place on 12 May 2022 and will be followed by a specialist conference in the afternoon and a public evening event to which all interested parties are welcome.

Symposium: Person-centred healthcare

Impairments to psychosocial health are widespread and range from mild restrictions to mental well-being to severe mental disorders. Mental illnesses are among the most common non-communicable diseases in Switzerland, and yet mental and social well-being is not always given the attention it deserves in somatically oriented day-to-day care.

To the symposium website

public evening event on the 2nd Day of Psychosocial Health

Treatment becomes more effective and supportive when the personal circumstances and needs of those affected are taken into account. What do medical professionals who work according to a person-centred concept do differently and what can I, as the person affected, contribute to the treatment process myself? What role can family members play in this?

To the event website

Further information

• Blog post about SomPsyNet

We are delighted that Bernd Gerresheim, Head of Obstetrics, and Claudine Estèbe, Midwife, will be speaking at the "Swiss Midwifery Congress 2022".

Our presentations

• "1 x 1 for breech presentation"
  Claudia Estebe, Bernd Gerresheim, Wednesday, 18 May from 11.00 - 12.30 in room 2
  
• "Management of foetal breech presentation"
  Bernd Gerresheim, Wednesday, 18 May from 14.30-14.50 in the Schadausaal

Further information on the congress

• To the congress website
• To the congress guide

Burnout is defined as chronic emotional exhaustion due to stress at work. The suffering is undisputed. From a medical point of view, however, the problem is more complex. "DOK" shows three people in burnout, between a fight for survival and a new beginning.

In medicine, burnout is not considered a disease in its own right, but merely a symptom. The diagnosis is often depression or anxiety disorder. Why is the term burnout still so widespread? "Because mental illnesses are still taboo," says psychologist Niklas Baer, who has made a name for himself as a pioneer of occupational psychiatry. Burnout is seen as a temporary overload and is more accepted than other psychological complaints.

Psychologist Niklas Baer sensitises the vocational trainers at Bethesda Hospital in a workshop on the topic of "mentally conspicuous apprentices".

Watch the whole programme

To the section "Mentally unstable apprentices"