Slight increase in patient numbers
11,838 inpatients were treated at Claraspital in 2023, 1% more than in the previous year (11,680). Outpatient numbers also increased by a good 1%: 50,392 outpatients were treated in 2023, compared to 49,763 in 2022. The number of inpatients at the Tumour Centre and in Gynaecology increased proportionately, while outpatient numbers fell slightly. Conversely, general internal medicine and pneumology/thoracic surgery saw a slight decline in inpatient numbers, but an increase in outpatient numbers. The emergency ward, which had grown strongly in 2022 with over 25% more patients, had slightly fewer patients in 2023 than in the previous year (-8%), in line with the national trend. Accordingly, the number of inpatient admissions via the emergency ward was also slightly below the previous year (47% in 2023, compared to 50% in 2022). The number of out-of-canton inpatients was 50%, while the number of inpatients not resident in Switzerland rose by 2% and exceeded 1000 patients for the first time.
Outstanding development in HSM surgery
In the first year under the management of Prof. Dr Beat Müller, the figures in the area of highly specialised abdominal surgery have developed very pleasingly. Clarunis AG - University Abdominal Centre Basel - performs four of the five highly specialised abdominal procedures at the Claraspital (oesophagus, deep rectum, bariatrics and pancreas). While the minimum case numbers required by the national list of highly specialised medicine have been clearly exceeded for years, they were significantly increased again last year. While there were a total of 177 highly specialised procedures in 2022, there were a total of 262 procedures in 2023 (+48%). Pancreatic and oesophageal resections in particular have increased: The number of pancreatic resections recorded an increase from 34 to 51 cases, while the number of oesophageal resections rose from 28 to 43 procedures, which corresponds to an increase of 50% and 54% respectively - with a minimum number of 12 procedures in each case.
In September last year, the Claraspital was again awarded the now definitive service contracts for complex bariatric surgery and for deep rectal resection in adults, making it one of only 15 hospitals in Switzerland still authorised to remove the rectum in cases of bowel cancer.
Last year, the urology department at the Claraspital also received the HSM service mandate for radical cystectomy and comfortably exceeded the minimum number of 10 with 19 cases.
Additional positions to cope with rising patient numbers
In order to continue to provide the best possible medical and nursing care for the increasing number of patients, over 50 additional positions were created and filled in 2023. Although the Clara Hospital is also feeling the effects of the shortage of specialist staff and requires more effort and time to fill positions in certain disciplines, it has still managed to do so to date. The additional positions relieve the pressure on existing employees and help to ensure the high quality of our service provision.
Slightly negative annual accounts despite rising patient numbers
Total income for 2023 amounts to CHF 247.84 million (+2%). The accounts close with a loss of CHF -2.4 million. The EBITAR is 12.4%. The slight minus in the result confirms the trend that hospitals are increasingly structurally underfunded. The tariffs do not cover costs, which means that the Claraspital is making a loss despite increasing patient numbers.
High patient satisfaction, certified quality, excellent ranking
The patient satisfaction rate recorded in an internal survey is an excellent 93.8% and has increased by a further 1% compared to the previous year. The satisfaction of patients with supplementary insurance is also a pleasing 93.4%. These figures are confirmed by another anonymous survey conducted by an external provider.
Last year, we again succeeded in certifying further organ centres or recertifying existing ones without any additional requirements - the anal cancer centre deserves special mention here.
According to a ranking by the American news magazine "Newsweek", the Claraspital is once again among the best hospitals in the world. Only 10 Swiss hospitals are named "World's Best Hospitals 2024". The Claraspital was ranked 6th among Swiss hospitals, making it the second-best non-university hospital in Switzerland and the best non-university hospital in Northwestern Switzerland. On the global list, the Claraspital was once again able to improve from 137th to 123rd place in the top 250 hospitals worldwide. The ranking is based on recommendations from medical experts, patient ratings and key medical figures. This ranking is an excellent result for our non-profit private hospital.
Clinical research
The expertise of PD Dr phil. II A. C. Meyer-Gerspach and PD Dr B. med. Wölnerhanssen on the subject of sugar consumption also led to numerous media enquiries in 2023, particularly on nutritional topics. The two researchers were also able to contribute their expertise to the launch of the national sugar manifesto "Sugar Alliance, Public Health Switzerland". Their statements on the subject of sweeteners - e.g. the WHO's risk assessment of aspartame - were sent to thousands of journalists in German-speaking countries and served as the basis for numerous articles. The renewed confirmation of the safety of the sugar substitute erythritol by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is also particularly pleasing. Studies by St. Clara Research contributed significantly to this reassessment.
CURA meeting centre
The interest in and demand for the low-threshold services offered by the CURA meeting centre initiated by St. Clara Hospital remains high in its fourth year of operation. The approximately 6,700 people who visit CURA each year are looked after by a team of five with a total of 2.5 FTEs. They are supported by eleven dedicated volunteers. On 2 November 2023, they received the 51st Prix Schappo from the Canton of Basel-Stadt. The prize was presented by the then President of the Government, Dr Beat Jans.