The highest standard of medical care

Approximately 1,500 inpatients are treated daily at the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen. We also provide care for at least the
same number of outpatients. We apply the highest quality standards in our treatment of patients. This can only be
achieved by perfect interaction between all departments: efficient logistics and administration, qualified employees,
excellent technical equipment and sophisticated treatment processes.

Verification of good training and notable social competence are vital employment requirements for all medical employees at the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen. Furthermore, the physicians have additional skills such as specific knowledge in various areas of expertise, experience in teaching, successful research work and often international experience as well. An important criterion for selection of professors in Aachen is their international reputation. This basis enables us to continuously further develop our medical competences.

Quality management

Structured quality management is one of the many reasons that patients feel they are in good hands with us. Patient security plays a very important role in our goals. The Uniklinik RWTH Aachen takes part in numerous regional and national quality comparisons and select quality indicators are continuously recorded. Since 2010, the hospital has been one of few German partners participating in the WHO project High 5s, which includes programmes like “Safe Surgery”. Furthermore, there is an internal system for recording undesired incidents (CIRS) and very stringent hygiene management. This monitoring system has made it possible to reduce the amount of hospital-acquired infections at the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen to half of the average number in German hospitals in just a few years’ time.

Excellent medical equipment

Our key emphasis on “Medicine and Technology” ensures that the technical equipment at the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen is always state-of-the-art. Among other things, this includes:

• three angio stations in radiology
• five left cardiac catheter measuring stations in cardiology and in the intensive care unit
• seven heart-lung machines, extracorporeal artificial heart and lung systems
• four computerised tomography scanners including Dual Source CT
• four magnetic resonance imaging scanners including three Tesla MRI and MRI for 3D imaging of the heart and coronary vessels
• high-precision linear accelerator for radiosurgical and stereotactic radiotherapy
• positron emission tomography (PET) scanner and PET-CT scanner, several gamma cameras
• hyperbaric chamber for hyperbaric oxygen therapy shock wave lithotripter
• application-specific equipment for endoscopic surgery and for patients with morbid obesity neurophysiological monitoring, stereotaxis and navigation systems in the operating room
• a da Vinci robot for computer-assisted operations

Outstanding radiological diagnostics and treatment

The three radiological departments at the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen staffed by more than 40 doctors ensure competent evaluation of all imaging techniques. Although they have only held their positions at the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen since the beginning of 2010, the three medical directors have established a whole series of innovative treatment approaches during this time. The indication for treatments is always decided in interdisciplinary meetings together with other medical specialists involved in the treatment of the patients.

• Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
  Headed by Professor Kuhl, the department focuses on magnet resonance tomography and interventional treatment of tumours. Professor Kuhl is especially qualified in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Interventional treatment procedures include percutaneous intra-arterial chemoembolisation and radiofrequency ablation of liver, kidney and bones sites as well as angioplasty with implantation of stents in cases of vascular diseases.

• Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology
  The Department of Neuroradiology offers all radiological procedures for diseases of the brain and the spinal cord. Director Professor Wiesmann has special expertise in catheter insertions for treatmentof vascular diseases of the brain. This includes embolisations with coils for arterial aneurysms (vascular outpouchings), expansionand stent implantations in cases of narrowed carotid arteries and, as a highlight, selective reopening of arteries in the brain following thromboses.

• Department of Nuclear Medicine
  The triad is completed by Professor Mottaghy, Director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine. In addition to classic nuclear medicine diagnostics and radioiodine therapy of the thyroid with the PET-CT, the department offers innovative, selective radionuclide treatment of tumours, for example selective intraarterial radionuclide therapy (SIRT) for malignant liver tumours or treatment with DOTA-coupled somatostatin analogues for neuroendocrine tumours. All radionuclides used in Aachen come from certified laboratories. In order to reduce risks for patients and their surroundings, we ensure strict compliance with the very tight guidelines in place for handling of radioactive substances in Germany.

Consistent treatment processes

Normally, the first contact between patient and the medical specialist takes place on an outpatient basis. During this initial examination, a therapy plan is prepared and discussed with the patient. Because of these prearrangements, examinations and treatment take place quickly. At the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, a case manager organises appointments for medical treatment and subsequent treatment for each patient. This ensures appropriate provision of medical care according to requirements in the standard wards (standard care), in the intensive care units and in intermediate care. Medical care remains the responsibility of the same professor from the very beginning in this process.

Surgical management as a team of specialists

Approximately 80 surgical procedures take place daily in 30 expertly equipped operating rooms with the most stringent hygienic standards. Among other things, these include an operating room especially for very heavy overweight patients. The central surgical management handles planning to ensure the smooth flow of procedures. Over 100 anaesthesiologists are coordinated here, assigned on a case-by-case basis to satisfy the specific experience requirements. For example, anaesthesia on children is conducted by specially certified paediatric anaesthesiologists, just as there are experts for the surgical monitoring of extensive cardiac or vascular surgery with heart-lung machines (HLM). Our well-rehearsed surgical teams consist of up to twelve persons – according to requirements – and are available around the clock.

Ideal treatment in the intensive care unit

Intensive care treatment may be temporarily required in the case of serious illnesses or after operations. The intensive care and intermediate care units with a total of approximately 150 fully equipped beds are managed in an interdisciplinary manner by the physicians involved. The nursing staff has additional intensive care qualifications. Technology and hygiene are of the highest standards. Facilities include a special unit for severe burn victims, a stroke unit for stroke patients and an intensive care unit with 33 beds for children and premature infants. Our intensive medicine offers ideal treatment for severely ill patients of all ages.