Klinikum Hildesheim is Germany’s second oncology centre to be certified as part of a pilot procedure by the German Cancer Association (DKG). The certification was made possible by the establishment of an oncological network: within the Group, in addition to Klinikum Hildesheim, it brings together community-based doctors practising in the areas of gynaecological oncology, internistic oncology and all co-operation partners from the Intestinal and Breast Cancer Centre.

Thanks to this interdisciplinary co-operation across sectors, cancer patients at Klinikum Hildesheim receive treatment adapted to their individual needs at every stage of their disease. Apart from the university hospital Charité in Berlin, Klinikum Hildesheim is currently the only hospital in Germany certified by the German Cancer Association.

Rising incidence of cancer disease

Cancer is a disease that especially affects the elderly, which means that the incidence of cancer increases with the rising life expectancy of the population. Against this background the German government introduced its “National Cancer Plan” in 2008 with the aim of improving care for cancer patients. Among other things, it provides for the further development of early cancer diagnosis, the establishment of oncological care structures as well as quality assurance in the areas of diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, the Plan specifically calls for greater patient orientation. Klinikum Hildesheim is one of the first hospitals in Germany to provide its patients with care in compliance with the guidelines of the National Cancer Plan.

Individual treatment for every patient

Prof. Dr. med. Frank Schmitz, head physician of the Clinic for Gastroenterology and Oncology at Klinikum Hildesheim and the one who initiated the certification, sees interdisciplinary care integrated across sectors as the right approach: “In order to further raise cure rates for cancer, patients need comprehensive and integrated care at all stages of their disease. In Hildesheim we ensure that all doctors involved work together with the patent and the patient’s relatives in treating this serious disease. In this way, every patient receives a very individual treatment. We can guarantee this based on the new guidelines of the German Cancer Association.”

Prof. Dr. med. Frank Schmitz took over the management of Medical Clinic II at Klinikum Hildesheim as head physician in 2006. He is the spokesman of the steering committee of the newly certified Oncological Network in Hildesheim.  Website Oncology Centre Hildesheim (in German)