Dresden University Hospital: Slovenia benefits from Dresden expertise

Prof. Tjalf Ziemssen advises Eastern European country / Model of outpatient care for MS patients developed at the hospital is a global role model
The successful operation of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre at the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden is a global role model for the treatment of this disease of the central nervous system: After the head of the centre, Prof. Tjalf Ziemssen, advised the Emirate of Qatar on the establishment of a treatment centre based on the Dresden model, he has now been commissioned by the Republic of Slovenia. Tjalf Ziemssen, head of the centre, has advised the Emirate of Qatar on the establishment of a treatment centre based on the Dresden model, he has now received an order from the Republic of Slovenia. The country, which lies between Austria and Croatia, wants to centralise the care of these patients. The country, which has a population of two million, sees this as the only way to ensure highly qualified care for MS patients.
"Early diagnosis and state-of-the-art care have a positive impact on the course of the disease in MS patients. A country with a low population density like Slovenia must rely on a centralised treatment offer in order to provide better care for MS patients than before. Over the next few years, I will be advising the country's government on how to establish the necessary structures and will also be communicating the knowledge currently available about the disease and its treatment," says Prof Ziemssen. The Dresden MS Centre is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Germany, now treating over 1,300 patients on a regular basis. "The Centre is a good example of the cutting-edge medicine provided at the University Hospital," explains Prof. Michael Albrecht, Medical Director of the University Hospital. "By closely linking patient care and research, we can offer the most innovative therapies to severely affected patients. At the same time, our experts contribute their experience and their own research to further improve treatment."

The Multiple Sclerosis Centre, which was established at Dresden University Hospital in 2007, combines outpatient medical care for patients with a comprehensive range of psychosocial counselling services and lively research activities. Prof Ziemssen and his team rely on close cooperation with the neurologists in private practice, who continue to see the MS patients regularly. The Dresden MS Centre carries out special examinations and offers a range of therapies that require the infrastructure of a university hospital. In addition, Prof. Ziemssen's team has developed a special computer-based patient management system to further improve networking in the treatment process between patients, general practitioners and the MS Centre.

Since its foundation six years ago, the MS Centre has grown steadily - today, the neurologists at the clinic treat more than 1,300 patients per year. As one of the largest and most renowned facilities of its kind in Germany, the centre combines outpatient medical care for patients with a comprehensive range of psychosocial counselling services and lively research activities. In Germany's largest hospital comparison published by the news magazine "Focus" in 2012, the MS Centre Dresden achieved a top position nationwide, primarily due to the combination of these care services. The new rooms in the ABAKUS building on Blasewitzer Straße, which the centre moved into in 2011, offer patients, doctors and researchers an optimal infrastructure on just under 600 square metres. "The size and structure of such a centre are crucial to its success," says Prof. Ziemssen, referring to the facility's six-year history, which has been given further impetus by the new location. Among other things, the new location will enable closer links between various research projects at the Department of Neurology. Patients on the Parkinson's special ward will also benefit from the new mobility centre: Their mobility and gait are quantitatively recorded here in order to be able to visualise disorders caused by MS or Parkinson's for research purposes.

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Source: MEDIA INFORMATION of the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden from 3 April 2013