Bad Neustadt

 From 1998 until end of 2016, I was Chief Physician at the Institute of Radiology of the Heart and Vascular Hospital (Rhoen-Klinikum) in Bad Neustadt an der Saale, from 2010 also its Medical Director.

My position in Bad Neustadt required my full commitment. At the beginning, the department consisted of 4 employees and exclusively conventional X-ray diagnostics. Over more than 18 years, we developed a radiological department into a technological high-end clinic of national and international importance:

• In addition to the digitalization on HIS, RIS and PACS level, many diagnostic and interventional devices have been put into operation in an innovative way, in some years up to 3 high-end machines. I was able to hand over to my designated head 3 X-ray workstations with flat detector technologies, 4 mobile X-ray systems, 1 ultrasound workstation, 3 angiography or fluoroscopy units, 3 multi-detector CT scanners (up to 256 rows) as well as 2 MRI scanners (1.5 and 3.0 Tesla).
• By 2016, the staff had grown to 10 doctors, 26 X-ray technicians (MTRA) and 7 administrative staff, supported by the medical and IT technology.

Our partners in Bad Neustadt were the Departments of Cardiology, Cardio Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Anaesthesiology and Hand-Shoulder-Foot Surgery as well as Neurology.

Over a period of several years, we have provided other hospitals of the Rhoen Klinikum Group in Nienburg, Stolzenau, Uelzen, Bad Kissingen, Hammelburg, Erlenbach and Miltenberg with teleradiological CT and MRI diagnostics, as well as the Franz-von-Prümmer Hospital in Bad Brueckenau and the Thoracic Centre in Muennerstadt with bioptical interventional services.

• In addition to general radiology, we were specialized in these areas:
• non-invasive diagnostics of heart diseases by means of CT and MRI
• non-invasive diagnostics of vascular diseases by means of CT and MRI
• invasive vascular diagnostics using catheter angiography (DSA)
• interventional vascular therapy of all vascular provinces beyond the heart (DSA), transpleural biopsy of peripheral lung tumors under CT control, peri-radicular therapy under fluoroscopy
• diagnostics of neurological diseases using radiography, CT, and MRI
• diagnostics of diseases of the hand, shoulder and foot using radiography, ultrasound, arthrography, CT and MRT.

Under my responsibility, I have emphasized two key practices:

• First, we cultivated a respectful approach to our patients. Their health problems were the focus of our attention and we always attempted to find an individual solution.
• Second, the interaction between the our department staff and those of the other clinics was always friendly, open and trusting as the basis for a good working atmosphere.

Continuous medical training of the radiological staff was a major priority. I personally conducted the weekly training courses for the residents. All technicians, residents and consultants were trained at internal and external seminars:

• As a result, we were had a pool of well-trained technicians who used their expertise to perform even complex examinations on their own.
• A number of specialists evolved from our institute.
• Some of the radiology staff have been involved in scientific activities. This is evidenced by presentations at national and international congresses, publications in renowned journals, half a dozen dissertations and the monograph on "Diagnostic Imaging of the Hand".

I would like to thank all my staff, particularly my longstanding deputy, Senior Consultant Dr Georgios Christopoulos, Senior Consultant Dr Steffen Fröhner, who sadly passed away far too early, and Senior Technician Ms Birgit Pfaff, who always supported me with great commitment and loyalty.

My work as Head Physician fills me with gratitude and pride. Looking back, we organized the "good old days" ourselves.

More on the last topic can be viewed in the section "The radiologist as a doctor".