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“Today is going a little differently than we planned,” Schwyz Chief Medical Officer Damian Meier, 49, said with a smile as he greeted Blick on short notice for an interview on Tuesday. The FDP politician’s office is located in the cantonal capital Schwyz, about half an hour’s drive from Einsiedeln Hospital, which is once again the subject of negative headlines these days. Meier’s office offers a view of the legends; But on this rainy afternoon the mountain peaks are hidden behind clouds.
Blick: How do the headlines about Einsiedeln Hospital make you feel?
Damian Meier: This worries and worries me. Health is central and emotional for people. I must also say that we know the situation at Einsiedeln Hospital. This did not come as a surprise to us. And on some points we have a slightly different impression.
Which?
Critical media coverage last summer prompted us to conduct the first comprehensive examination at Einsiedeln Hospital in November 2022. As a canton, we do not co-own the three acute hospitals in our canton. But we exert influence through performance instructions. And we have oversight. When we hear complaints, we challenge. We took action with the first comprehensive audit in November 2022.
How exactly did you inspect the hospital?
This was done by us and outside experts. They reviewed processes, spoke to key people, showed documents and performed spot checks.
After the investigation, you wrote a 130-page report, which you kept confidential. Whats in there?
Without going into too much detail, I can say that we asked Einsiedeln Hospital to make improvements at certain points. However, it is important to emphasize that these were not points that required urgent intervention. Our focus is patient safety. We did not encounter any situation that would endanger patient safety.
Yet you imposed a whole catalog of precautions on the hospital. Have these been implemented?
We set deadlines for the hospital and requested a report. We did a follow-up inspection this November. We are still in the middle of detailed evaluation. I can already say that this time we did not encounter any problems that required urgent intervention.
Is there a discussion about revoking service authorizations from the hospital?
We are currently in the middle of the process of re-awarding service contracts through 2025. Of course, we will discuss whether hospitals will give the service contracts they apply for in the way we imagine.
Schwyz medical director Damian Meier (49) looks set to do everything he can to ensure that Einsiedeln Hospital is preserved – with or without internal criticism. The closure of hospitals is generally viewed negatively by the public. In other cantons, government councilors voted to close hospitals. For example, in 2004, St. In St. Gallen, the then CVP government councilor Anton Grüninger lost his post due to the closure of the Altstätten, Flawil and Wattwil hospitals. His abandonment of the election delayed but did not prevent the closure of hospitals.
The example of the canton of Zurich shows that there is another way: The then health director, Verena Diener (74), closed ten regional hospitals from 1996, including those in Thalwil, Pfäffikon and Dielsdorf. Although the closure of hospitals drew criticism, Diener still managed to be re-elected to the government council in 1999.
Schwyz medical director Damian Meier (49) looks set to do everything he can to ensure that Einsiedeln Hospital is preserved – with or without internal criticism. Closing hospitals is generally viewed negatively by the public. In other cantons, government councilors voted to close hospitals. For example, in 2004, St. In St. Gallen, the then CVP government councilor Anton Grüninger lost his post due to the closure of the Altstätten, Flawil and Wattwil hospitals. His abandonment of the election delayed but did not prevent the closure of hospitals.
The example of the canton of Zurich shows that there is another way: The then health director, Verena Diener (74), closed ten regional hospitals from 1996, including those in Thalwil, Pfäffikon and Dielsdorf. Although the closure of hospitals drew criticism, Diener still managed to be re-elected to the government council in 1999.
Are Einsiedeln’s chances of regaining its authorization to serve in obstetrics possibly bad after the obstetrics department was closed for months this year?
I cannot confirm this in general. But of course, we will take a closer look, especially in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and ask ourselves the following question: Is the reason for the closure really a lack of skilled workers, or are there other reasons?
Wouldn’t it be better if Kanto’s three acute care hospitals competed less with each other? So the canton issues different performance instructions to all hospitals?
You are free to choose the doctor and hospital. The market, not the canton, decides which service should be provided where. Ultimately, patients decide whether three hospitals are needed.
Aren’t you being a little graceful?
NO. The federal legislature designed it that way. I think the canton of Schwyz will set an example. The less influence the state has, the better. Anyway: If so, then hospital planning needs to be examined across cantons.
Are you in contact with neighboring cantons on this issue?
Naturally. There is an exemplary project in the field of psychiatry: The cantons of Uri, Zug and Schwyz have joined forces for this purpose. In Oberwil, on the shores of Lake Zug, there is a residential treatment clinic for the population of all three cantons. There are outpatient facilities in all three cantons. We may be able to follow this path in the traditional hospital system in the future, especially given the shortage of skilled workers.
Our healthcare system is one of the most expensive systems in the world. People are groaning under the burden of premiums. Can we really continue with a hospital like Einsiedeln?
Cost risk belongs to the hospital operator. It is stuck with costs if it trades at a higher price than it can recoup through tariffs. As a canton, we do not close any gaps.
Do you personally think it would be bad if the Einsiedeln Hospital or any of the other hospitals in the canton were to close?
Of course, hospitals are the central employers of their respective regions. But from my point of view, the problem of closure does not arise today.
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
