Bonn (jm).
The WEGE Clinic (formerly the Robert Janker Clinic) in Bonn-Dottendorf wants to break new ground in the healthcare sector. The clinic is not only making this clear in words with its recent name change, but also in deeds: The clinic has appointed Dr. med. Henning Cuhls as head physician for the specialist area of palliative medicine. This means that the WEGE Clinic, which is one of the most important specialist clinics for the treatment of tumor diseases in Germany, now has three chief physicians. In addition to Dr. Cuhls, these are Prof. Dr. med Michael Pinkawa, Medical Director and Chief Physician of the Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, and Prof. Dr. med Attila Kovács, Chief Physician of the Clinic for Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology.
“With the creation of a new head physician position for palliative medicine and the appointment of Dr. Cuhls, we are making it clear that we are serious about our intention to focus even more than before on the personal contact with our patients. This sets us apart from other clinics. I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Dr. Cuhls, one of the best experts in this field, as our new Chief Physician,” says PD Dr Azize Boström, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the WEGE Clinic and neurosurgeon at WEGE MVZ.
Dr. Cuhls has been Medical Director and Chief Physician of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at Marienstift in Braunschweig for the past three years and previously worked at Bonn University Hospital for 25 years, where he was already in charge of the Palliative Medicine department as Deputy Clinic Director and Senior Consultant from 2014 to 2021.
“It is a great honor for me to be able to work together with a highly motivated and qualified team in Bonn as Chief Physician. It is remarkable that the WEGE Clinic is one of the few clinics to take this path and make palliative medicine a top priority. This is still an exception in Germany,” explains Dr. Henning Cuhls. Dr. Henning Cuhls. As a result, this specialist area, in which patients with incurable illnesses with a limited life expectancy and their relatives are cared for, has been significantly upgraded at the WEGE Clinic.
Giving space
Dr. Cuhls has a clear concern: “Palliative care must be integrated into the care process for patients with a limited life expectancy much earlier than it has been in the past. The earlier we provide support, the better the quality of life for those affected and their relatives.” Often, only a supportive consultation or a short stabilizing stay on the palliative care ward is necessary for the patient to move on. Thanks to modern forms of therapy and ever-improving medical care, seriously ill patients can be cared for at home for longer and longer. “However, this is not always possible in the final phase. The space becomes smaller and smaller. In the end, only the bed remains as a radius of action. With our palliative care department and outpatient palliative and hospice care, we can help to provide the best possible care for those affected, as well as their relatives, with empathy and sensitivity. We give them the space they need.”
Palliative outpatient clinic under construction
The palliative care unit at the WEGE Clinic has a total of nine inpatient beds. Dr. Cuhls and his team also want to create a supplementary outpatient palliative care service with a comprehensive advisory service. “The sooner those affected and their relatives deal with topics such as living wills or health care proxies, the better. With its certification, the German Society for Palliative Medicine confirms that those affected receive competent care at the WEGE Clinic.
The palliative care ward at the WEGE Clinic offers these services
Patients receive comprehensive care on the palliative care ward at the WEGE Clinic. Medically, this involves individual therapies, medication and radiotherapy to alleviate pain. Björn König’s physiotherapy team addresses individual needs to improve mobility and independence as much as possible. Psychosocial support is provided by social workers, volunteers and our psycho-oncologist Kerstin Moritz. The WEGE Clinic also offers spiritual care through its clinic chaplain Margarete Catharina Scheuvens. The annual memorial service in November, followed by a get-together in the WEGE Clinic cafeteria, is very popular with relatives and staff.
24/7 help in an emergency
The WEGE Clinic’s palliative care team can be contacted around the clock for help in an emergency on 0228 5306-4333.
This is the philosophy behind the new name WEGE-Klinik:
- Knowing
Medical care at the WEGE Clinic is based on excellent specialist knowledge and the valuable wealth of experience gained from years of research and treatment. This is the only way to achieve therapies with the best prospects of recovery and the precision and safety of the necessary procedures. “You are always in the very best hands with our experts,” is the clinic’s approach.
- Empathic
People, with their individual character and their physical and psychological circumstances, are at the heart of everything the WEGE Clinic does. With the utmost care and humanity, the WEGE team aims to look after the well-being of each individual and accompany them both medically and emotionally through their time in our clinic and often beyond.
- Together
Those who combine their strengths can achieve great things. The experts at the WEGE Clinic specialize in different areas. For patients, this means that they can rely on interdisciplinary expertise. Thanks to the short communication channels and direct exchange, the specialists at the WEGE Clinic find quick, well-founded solutions even for complex issues.
- Committed
The contact persons at the WEGE-Klinik are aware of their responsibility to all those involved and do everything they can to take healthcare in the region to a new level. Because only if you act with passion and care in accordance with the latest medical knowledge can you meet your own and your patients’ requirements at all times.
About the WEGE-Klinik and the WEGE MVZ
Today’s WEGE Clinic was founded in 1937 by radiologist Robert Janker as the Robert Janker Clinic and has developed into one of the leading specialist clinics for the treatment of tumor diseases. The clinic in Bonn’s Dottendorf district is one of the largest radiotherapy clinics in Germany. The WEGE Clinic offers inpatient and outpatient care in the fields of radiotherapy and radiooncology, radiosurgery, interventional and diagnostic radiology and neuroradiology as well as palliative medicine. Innovative procedures such as embolization of prostate and liver diseases, CT-navigated fusion biopsies, stereotactic treatments of the brain, lungs, prostate and breast as well as brachytherapy of the prostate and gynaecological tumours are important focal points at the WEGE Clinic. From 1998 to 2023, the clinic was part of the MediClin AG group of clinics.
Together with the new owner Mercurius Health (since January 2023), the strategic realignment and a transformation process were initiated, which also led to a new brand identity and the new name WEGE-Klinik. WEGE stands for: Knowing. Empathetic. Together. Committed. The WEGE Clinic has 40 beds. Outpatient care is provided by the Medical Care Center for Radiotherapy and Neurosurgery, WEGE MVZ for short.
About the Mercurius Health Group
Mercurius Health Group is one of Europe’s leading providers of advanced oncology solutions, specializing in radiotherapy and nuclear medicine for hospitals and cancer centers. Mercurius Health develops, operates and supports centers in over 15 locations and is currently represented in Germany, Spain, Portugal and the UK. The Mercurius Health Group offers its services throughout Europe.
With more than 35 years of experience, the highly specialized team has tremendous expertise in state-of-the-art radiotherapy and nuclear medicine equipment and procedures, as well as in the construction and management of oncology facilities. Mercurius Health focuses on strategic partnerships with healthcare facilities to provide state-of-the-art treatments to their oncology patients. The solutions include the management of the entire project to develop new services or install new equipment, from planning, selection and procurement of equipment to project implementation, operation and financing.
The Mercurius Health Group operates its own centers such as the WEGE-Klinik (formerly Robert Janker Klinik), a renowned oncology hospital in Bonn, and CADPET, a nuclear medicine network in Spain. This means that the clinical, technical and management teams are always up to date and benefit from ongoing improvements in their projects.
Further information:
WEGE-Klinik – Villenstraße 8 – 53129 Bonn – Phone +49 (0) 228 5306-0
www.wegeklinik.com – info@wegeklinik.com
www.wegemvz.com – info@wegemvz.com
Contact for the press WEGE-Klinik & Mercurius Health Group:
Laura Terzagui, Group Marketing & Communications Director
laura.terzagui@mercuriushealth.com – www.mercuriushealth.com
Clara Urbina, Marketing Support Officer
clara.urbina@mercuriushealth.com – www.mercuriushealth.com
Agency contact:
Jensen media GmbH, Hemmerlestraße 4, 87700 Memmingen
Phone +49 (0) 833199188-0
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Contact person: Ingo Jensen