Criticism from people at Einsiedeln Hospital: Hospital operator Ameos defends himself

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“There is no reason for a bad mood in our house,” explains Einsiedler Hospital Director Daniel Schroer (55) in an interview. Hospital insiders level harsh accusations at Blick’s small rural hospital: So many employees have left the hospital that many sources doubt whether patient safety is still guaranteed.

Schroer, on the other hand, does not want to know anything about bloodshed among the staff. Layoffs are within expected range. “In principle, the desire for change in the healthcare sector is increasing” due to the shortage of skilled workers, explains Schroer. This situation affected not only Einsiedeln Hospital but also other hospitals. And he emphasizes: “All important positions in the hospital have been filled or are being filled.”

Patients do not need to worry about not receiving adequate care at Einsiedeln Hospital: “We have adequate staff in all wards to ensure high quality of operations and patient safety,” emphasizes Schroer. Except for the maternity ward, which had to be closed due to lack of staff. According to those in charge, this is a better option than holding the door open by hook or crook and relying on the remaining employees. In case of bottleneck, temporary staff will be used when necessary and only as a last resort.

Schroer also strongly denies allegations of breach of regulatory duty. “Nurses cannot write prescriptions right now because of the system.”

Millions lost and long-standing problems

The assurances given by those in charge of the hospital stand in stark contrast to the harsh claims made by insiders against the Einsiedeln Hospital. But even critics of the hospital to whom Blick spoke admit: Ameos did not cause many of the problems at Einsiedeln Hospital, but he inherited them.

Because Ameos took over a very loss-making business with Einsiedeln Hospital in 2020: Einsiedeln Hospital announced a loss of 6.7 million francs in 2019. Ameos doesn’t reveal what the numbers look like today.

ameos system

Private hospital group Ameos’ business model is to make healthy savings by taking over struggling healthcare facilities. Ameos was founded in 2002 and, according to its information, currently operates more than 100 facilities in more than 50 locations and employs 18,000 people. In addition to hospitals, the portfolio also includes care facilities, rehabilitation clinics and health centers.

Ameos is headquartered in Zurich, but the majority of its business takes place in Germany. However, Ameos has barely found a place in the Swiss healthcare system so far. Besides Hospital Einsiedeln, the group operates only one other inpatient facility in this country: Seeklinikum Brunnen, a psychiatric clinic in Ingenbohl SZ. There are also Ameos city practices for outpatient psychiatry in Zurich, Zug, Lucerne and Sursee LU. However, all training sessions in the city except Zug will be closed at the end of the year. The reason for this is the shortage of skilled workers, as Ameos stated on demand.

Strikes in Germany

It is unknown how much money Ameos makes by turning struggling clinics into profit: The company does not disclose any business figures. According to the company’s own information, its balance sheet totals €1 billion, but this says little about any profits.

In any case, there is great criticism of the business model: there have been strikes in many Ameos hospitals in Germany in the past, most recently in 2022 at the Bad Salzuflen psychiatric clinic in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. There was talk of a strike in Einsiedeln in 2022 following the departure of all junior doctors, but it was clear there was not enough support among staff.

Source :Blick