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The article discusses university clinics approved for hospital treatment are to be included in the hospital plan in Germany. It mentions reallocation of beds for internal medicine in the hospital plan of the state of Lower Saxony; and also mentions clinic created the personnel, technical and spatial requirements for complex neurological treatment for stroke patients as a new diagnostic and therapeutic form of treatment.

Background: The development of provision and usage of intensive care capacity in Germany in the last two decades has not yet been sufficiently studied. Methods: Based on the official statistical data provided by the Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt) with respect to hospitals, the hospitals were analyzed in four categories: small hospitals (≤199 beds), medium size hospitals (200-499 beds), large hospitals (500-999 beds) and very large hospitals (≥1,000 beds). For the period between 1991 and 2009 the development of hospitals, hospital beds, the number and occupancy of intensive care unit beds, the number of cases and the length of stay of intensive care patients were analyzed. Results: While the total number of hospital beds decreased, the number of critical care beds increased. During the period between 1991 and 2009 the occupancy rate increased. Also the proportion of critical care beds from all hospital beds doubled and currently exceeds 8% for very large hospitals. An increase in the length of stay in the intensive care units was also observed. Conclusions: The provision and usage of intensive care capacities have increased steadily and independently of the hospital size in Germany in the last two decades. Major effects of cost reduction measures, such as the introduction of diagnosis-related reimbursement on the provision and usage of intensive care medicine were not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: The documentation of hospital services in terms of secondary services is suboptimal. Technical hygiene is one of the secondary services of a hospital. As one aspect of technical hygiene whose realisation is currently a topic of debate, the reprocessing of beds should be analyzed under economic points of view, because up to now no thorough cost analysis exists. The following aspects should be considered: The analysis must include the legal requirements on reprocessing of beds. In addition to statements on output, i.e., on the benefit of the given procedure to the patient, the input is measured with a cost analysis to identify the procedure with the best cost:benefit ratio. Moreover, options for cost reduction based on the cost-cutting potential of a given procedure are emphasized. Additionally, in terms of bed reprocessing, continuing aspects for reducing costs should be indicated Method: The three types of reprocessing performed in Germany were analyzed: decentralized, centralized-manual, and centralized-mechanical reprocessing of beds. First, a literature search was done to deter- mine the legal requirements. The analysis of the actual situation was based on plant-site inspections at manufacturers of reprocessing equipment, inspections in hospitals, interviews with manufacturers, operators, and persons responsible for equipment at central bed reprocessing facilities, interviews with those performing the work in and persons responsible for various management areas in the hospital. For the cost analysis, essential cost categories were examined. The cost calculation was based on the fictive description of a maximum provider. If possible, real data were used. The used prices refer to list prices without considering discounts or cash discounts. The data acquired were compared and evaluated in terms of output and input. Results and discussion: Expert opinions in medical hygiene show that each type of reprocessing leads to the necessary reprocessing result, for which the motivation of the worker performing the job is a requirement; i.e., in terms of hygienic certainty, the three processes are equivalent relative to output. The essential cost categories are construction, investment, service and maintenance, material, operating resources, personnel costs, and bed-transport costs; however, every type of reprocessing causes different cost categories. In Germany, bed reprocessing is chiefly performed by the janitorial, delivery, and nursing professions. In each of the three processes examined, personnel costs make up the largest share of the total cost of reprocessing (up to 89%). In terms of bed reprocessing at a central facility, the personnel resources spent on round-trip bed transport are decisive. Relative to the centralized mechanical processing, operating resources must be considered in addition to personnel costs as decisive for the total expenses (up to 42%). With regard to cutting costs, personnel and operating resources hold the greatest potential. The former can be reduced by selecting the right trade guild for the job. With identical reprocessing results, the costs for the central-manual or -machine reprocessing are greater than those of decentralized bed processing by about 2.9 and 4.5 times, respectively.… [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a demographic shift that has created a requirement for more geriatric services and hospital beds in Germany. Statistics are presented showing numbers of hospitals and hospital beds, geriatric beds, average length of hospital stays, numbers of day clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and rehabilitation beds.

The article discusses the regulation of hospital planning in Germany. A critique of the contemporary system is offered, and the developments that have put pressure on the system are examined. Potential alternative or reformed hospital planning systems and those in other countries are described. All socialist countries are said to rely on the state as the hospital planning party of ultimate resort.

The article discusses the relative costs of health insurance among member states of the European Union. Cost differentials are said to rest with means of finance via taxes or insurance premiums, state or private insurance provision, and structural components such as hospital bed density. Variances in drug prices, patient co-payments, patient waiting times, and limits on procedure coverage are also noted.

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The article discusses a regulation promulgated by the German federal ministry for economics to govern health facilities. The September 1954 law deals specifically with reporting of hospital costs and the raising of hospital daily rates by 18%. Improving the financial status of nurses and young doctors is said to entail a 10% wage increase.

The article discusses 1968 German health care statistics released by the Federal Statistics Bureau, including figures on numbers of hospitals, patients, and beds. Women's use of hospitals was significantly greater than men's across several categories. Hospital bed occupancy rates and average length of hospital stays both declined over the prior year.

The article discusses statistics derived from a German federal government health report showing numbers and ratios of hospitals and hospital beds to residents. The need for modernization of hospital facilities and equipment is stressed. To address that need, legislation of December 1970 is discussed which authorizes government financial assistance for that purpose.

The article reports on a January 1960 decision of the Soviet Communist Party and the High Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to put military reduction savings toward the improvement of medical treatment of the people. The health oriented seven year plan includes funds for research institutes, an increase in hospital beds, raised production of medicines, and a special emphasis on production of vitamins and antibiotics. Life expectancy improvements were also announced.