Luxury That Saves Lives: SalutoCare in Bad Kissingen
Interview with Michael Presl, Managing Director of Klinik Bavaria GmbH
What began as a hotel is today one of Germany's most innovative rehabilitation clinics. Klinik Bavaria in Bad Kissingen has developed a concept called ‘SalutoCare’ that provides top-level medicine to intensive care patients. Managing director Michael Presl focuses on a holistic approach and individualized care – creating a unique feature in the German healthcare landscape. In the interview, he explains how his family business is rethinking rehabilitation and why all patients benefit from it.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Presl, please introduce yourself briefly. What is your role at Klinik Bavaria?
Michael Presl: I am the Managing Director and also a shareholder of Klinik Bavaria GmbH & Co. KG. It is also something special, talking to an owner. In the healthcare sector today, as in any other industry, there are not many owner-managed facilities anymore, but rather large corporations. Klinik Bavaria is actually a medium-sized family business. I have been running Klinik Bavaria in Bad Kissingen for 22 years. Before that, my brother Christian Presl did it, who sadly passed away in a traffic accident 20 years ago. This circumstance encouraged us to establish the Christian-Presl Foundation, with which we care for people who have suddenly lost a relative.
Wirtschaftsforum: How did the clinic come into being?
Michael Presl: My father previously worked at Rhön-Klinikum and worked there for about ten years as an assistant to the managing director Eugen Münch. Together, they started building hospitals. Later, my father became independent in the field of rehabilitation. As a result, several rehab clinics were established – one of them in Bad Kissingen. This house was previously a hotel called ‘2002’ and was taken over by my father in 1986. There he laid the foundation for his work in rehabilitation.
Wirtschaftsforum: How have you developed the clinic further?
Michael Presl: The clinic was developed from a former sports and wellness hotel with existing facilities such as a swimming pool, gym and spacious general areas – ideal conditions for a rehabilitation facility. We started with orthopedic rehabilitation and over the years have evolved into a very individual clinic with around 300 beds. Today, we have two intensive care units, specialized care areas, and a variety of offers for private patients and self-payers. We have particularly grown in the treatment of severe cases.
Wirtschaftsforum: At your clinic, you pursue a special concept with 'SalutoCare'. What exactly is behind it, and what makes it so special from your perspective?
Michael Presl: We probably have the most beautiful intensive care unit in Europe. SalutoCare offers people who are very severely affected a special ambiance and special care, the kind one would wish for oneself or for a relative. It is not a model of private or statutory health insurance, but an addition. Comparable to a hotel – you can choose between three stars or five stars. This is not available in the medical world otherwise. If one is mildly affected, they can choose premium services, but this has not been possible for severe medical problems until now. We fill this market gap. The beauty of it is that a balance is created: These people get good value for their money, which is market-oriented, and we can then also raise the level for standard insured patients. The name derives from salutogenesis – the doctrine of health. We look at the whole person, not just the disease. The special aspect: Patients stay in their suites, and medical care comes to them – whether it is orthopedics, neurology, or another specialty.
Wirtschaftsforum: Is artificial intelligence already playing a role in your clinic?
Michael Presl: No, but it will soon play a huge role in medicine. It won't be long before you input medical data and AI makes treatment suggestions that will be shockingly good. Even today, you can enter five symptoms and get a surprisingly accurate diagnosis. That will be a big advantage. I do not believe that a robot will take care of a person, but the quality of treatment in the healthcare system will improve significantly, both in practices and in hospitals.
Wirtschaftsforum: What about sustainability in your clinic?
Michael Presl: We are certified and sustainability is present at every level in our clinic – both in terms of energy and personnel. For example, we try to ensure that our employees' children can also work with us. We offer many programs, from parent-friendly services to training and further education. We now have three combined heat and power plants and are working on recycling, which is challenging in the medical world due to hygiene requirements. We try to balance hygiene and sustainability. However, this is very difficult in healthcare because patient safety always takes precedence over resource conservation.
Wirtschaftsforum: What are your plans for the future?
Michael Presl: We want to expand the SalutoCare project. Currently, we have five large beds and plan to expand to 22 beds in the next two years. For this, an entire ward will be expanded to about 3,000 m2.