Department of neurology
History and development of the department of neurology at the St Vincenz hospital, Limburg
In 2000, the department of neurology celebrated its 30th anniversary. Founded by Karlheinz Beer MD in 1970, it was the first department providing inpatient and outpatient care for neurological disorders in the region between Wiesbaden, Giessen and Koblenz. It consisted of 4 beds in the beginning; a number which has been increased to 23 since then. Doctor Beer introduced neurophysiologic diagnostics with electroencephalography, electroneurography and myography as well as CSF examination. Demand for neurological consultancy was building up quickly, and the department grew steadily, thanks to the employment of the latest diagnostic technology and its high number of patients. A crucial medical-technical progress was the introduction of computed tomography (CT) and, later on, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the department, both in collaboration with the roentgenolocical practice of doctor Killmann and colleagues in Limburg. Thus, we had the most important diagnostic technology concerning neuroradiology at our disposal at an early stage.
Unfortunately, Doctor Beer had to retire after almost 26 years as head physician for health reasons in 1996. Between 1996 and 1998, the department was run by his business successor Mr M Beul, specialist for neurology and psychiatry, and the house's neurologist and psychiatrist Ms Habedank MD.
On 1 October 1998, the department was converted into a main specialist department under the direction of Christoph Oberwittler MD. Because of this, the realm of diagnostic and therapeutic activities has been extended significantly, so that today we also perform transcranial Doppler ultrasonography with microemboli detection as well as sleep diagnostics with sleep apnoea-screening and polysomnography (since 2000).
In 1998, a new unit, equipped with monitoring devices, was built for the treatment of acute stroke syndromes. This acute stroke unit has been run by the department of neurology in collaboration with the department of clinical medicine ever since; an integration of special fields which is singular in Hesse and beyond. We offer 24-hour cover for the whole spectrum of neurological, cardiologic and radiological diagnostics as well as the treatment of acute stroke syndromes. Since 1999, we are able to transfer CT or MRI data to Giessen via ISDN and discuss it in video conferences.
Since 1999, we have been training up to two medical students in their practical year on the optional subject neurology. The training is completed with a state examination.
The amount of inpatient care has increased continually since the opening of the specialist department. Between January and July 2003, the number of cases treated has risen again by 4.4%, the duration of inpatient stay is about 2 days shorter than in an average German hospital.
Since 2003, the head physician is entitled by the KV Hessen (CHI physicians' association in Hesse) to treat patients in need of a botulinus toxin therapy on an outpatient basis after referral by specialists for 6 months after discharge.
| Numbers of cases treated | Duration of inpatient stay: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Cases | Year | Duration (days) |
| 1999 | 997 | 1999 | 8,83 |
| 2000 | 1.246 | 2000 | 8,28 |
| 2001 | 1.461 | 2001 | 7,20 |
| 2002 | 1.497 | 2002 | 6,98 |
| 2003 | 1.639 | 2003 | 6,75 |
