Clinics in the Ostalbkreis: Millions of losses and large investments planned!

Clinics in the Ostalbkreis: Millions of losses and large investments planned!

Aalen, Deutschland - The Ostalb clinics are faced with a financial challenge that keeps the district policy busy! Christoph Rieß, the CEO, presented the alarming economic plans for 2025 in the district council. The clinics are expected to suffer a loss of around 63 million euros in 2024, and the forecast for 2025 provides only a slight improvement: a deficit of almost 60 million euros is expected. Rieß plans to leave the expenses to around 370 million euros, while the income should only be around 310 million euros.

The distribution of the losses is also concerned: the Ostalb Clinic will be the most affected with a deficit of 23.1 million euros, followed by the Staufer Clinic with 19.75 million euros and the Virngrund-Klinik with 17.32 million euros. Despite these dark numbers, there is hope for small profits from special areas such as Wachkoma Bopfingen and the Medical Service Center at the Ostalb Klinikum. But why is the savings so slow? Rieß explains that the triple provision of many medical services at the locations cannot be reduced by 2025, and unpredictable factors such as tariff increases and increasing social security contributions.

investments and changes in the clinic structure

In order to improve the financial situation, 2025 investments of 14.65 million euros are planned. This includes important expenses for the IT strategy, the operating operating willingness to operate and the construction of the regional supplier in Essingen. Rieß is optimistic that digitization and operational improvements from 2025 can achieve the first savings. The planned relocation of medical services, such as visceral surgery from Ellwangen to Aalen/Mutlangen, is scheduled to begin in early 2025. Further moves are planned for the end of 2025 and 2026 to make the clinic structure more efficient.