1. Comprehensive care under one roof
The new pediatric clinic provides a comprehensive and differentiated provision of care under one roof. It is a medical center for all age groups and stages of development ranging from premature and newborn babies to school children, adolescents and young adults. In a widely differentiated care program, we provide, in addition to out-patient emergency medicine and regional standard care, highly specialized, interdisciplinary care. We tend to severely acutely and chronically ill patients in specialized wards, expert out-patient clinics and the day-care clinic. With its highly specialized areas of medicine, the new pediatric clinic in Freiburg constitutes a medical care center for the region and far beyond. We take advantage of the competence and facilities of our high-performance university medicine as well as of a close networking and cooperation with the privately practicing pediatricians.
2. Consistent patient and family orientation
Our goal is to foster the health and well-being of our patients and their families and, if possible, to restore and ensure it permanently. We understand the term ‘health’, as defined by the WHO, as bodily, mental and social well-being. The promotion of the health-related quality of life is an important concern for us. From the diagnosis to aftercare, we convey security and orientation to our patients and their families.
In Unsere Kinder- und Jugendklinik Freiburg treatment is interdisciplinary and evidence-based. The basic underlying pediatric attitude is characterized by responsibility, transparency and continuity. This becomes apparent in the age-appropriate participation of our patients and in the involvement of the parents in medical decisions, in psychosocial support and the stimulation of development. As important reference persons, the responsible physicians as well as the therapeutic and nursing staff are easily approachable. The same holds true for the entire treatment team – including all members from the different medical disciplines and the pedagogical and psychosocial staff – that accompanies our patients and their families closely during their whole stay at the clinic.
3. Clinically oriented research and teaching
An essential prerequisite for the further development of treatment approaches in pediatrics continues to be the anchoring of science, research and teaching in actual practice. We study the emergence of diseases and discover their causes by connecting clinical observation with modern laboratory research. In clinical studies we test the effectiveness of new forms of treatment and contribute to the safety of pharmaceuticals for children and adolescents. Imparting our knowledge to students and to diverse professional groups has a special significance in our daily routine. The unique structure of research, teaching and training closely oriented around the patient is necessary in order to be able to fulfill the (inter)national tasks of maximal patient care effectively and sustainably.
4. A family-oriented environment fostering recovery
The promotion of recovery, regeneration and stabilization of our patients has to be reflected in all actions and medical treatments as well as in the spatial design of our clinic:
A feeling of safety, security and orientation for severely sick young patients and their
heavily burdened parents is bolstered by architecture that is designed to promote health.
This architecture is characterized by clarity and an interior design appropriate for all ages
and developmental stages. It is family-oriented, but at the same time it takes into account
the need of autonomy of adolescents and young adults. Included are rooms for patients
and their families which facilitate effective treatment, closeness and retreat, as well as
providing an environment that makes recovery possible through playing, learning and
relaxing. In addition, easy and uncomplicated access to medical care as well as areas for
regeneration is essential. Further aspects of the architectural design such as daylight, a
favourable indoor climate, sound insulation and the choice of materials and colors, are
additional elements that need to be taken into consideration. These elements play an important role not only for the well-being and recovery of our patients but also for a pleasant working environment for our staff.
5. A vivid culture of communication
An important guiding principle in the concept of the new pediatric clinic in Freiburg is the
realization of an environment that is conducive to communication. Effective communication is one of the key factors to success, not only for shaping the relationship between the treatment team and the patients and their families respectively, but also for the interdisciplinary teamwork of the staff. Collaboration in the team is characterized by exchange and cooperation and corresponds to an appreciative, collegial and team-oriented atmosphere of work. Fostering communication is realized in our concept by (a) clear organizational structures, (b) promotion of the competence of our staff in communicating with patients and parents and (c) architecture that is conducive to communication with adequate spaces for communication and short connections between them.