A Comprehensive Treatment

Interview with Prof. Dr. med. Martin Kriegmair, Managing Director of Medical Team Clinic GmbH

Soon, an extension building for outpatient care is to be constructed at the clinic in Planegg

The Munich-Planegg Urological Clinic offers its patients the entire spectrum of surgical treatments including all adjunctive therapies under one roof. Owner Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair explained in an interview with Wirtschaftsforum why private ownership allows for faster innovations than public legal sponsorship, and why his patients are more empowered today than ever before.

Wirtschaftsforum: Professor Dr. Kriegmair, in your urological clinic in Munich-Planegg, you aim to consistently place patients with all their needs at the center of your actions while simultaneously offering interdisciplinary therapy at the highest level – how comprehensive is your range of treatments?

Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair: Fundamentally, our clinic covers the entire spectrum of urological care, so our patients do not have to constantly change facilities or be sent to different doctors during their therapy, but rather receive consistent, unified treatment. In the field of uro-oncology, we are one of the few centers throughout Germany that is certified by the German Cancer Society for all four entities of our specialty – tumors of the prostate, urinary bladder, kidney, and testis. In addition to surgical care, all pre- and postoperative adjuvant chemo and immunotherapies can also be performed in our facility.

Wirtschaftsforum: And beyond the oncological treatment spectrum?

Prof. Dr. med. Martin Kriegmair, Managing Director of Medical Team Clinic GmbH

Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair: Another focus of our clinic is in reconstructive urology, where we treat a variety of congenital anomalies in the urinary tract such as urethral strictures. In recent years, we have also developed extensive expertise in transgender surgery, especially in the transformation from individuals with externally female sex characteristics to male. Furthermore, we are also engaged in pelvic floor surgery and in the care of incontinent elderly patients.

Wirtschaftsforum: How do you manage to represent this wide spectrum in all its complexity?

Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair: We rely on a proven department system, in which dedicated departments can fully concentrate on their field and at the same time coordinate the ideal treatment concept for each patient across various teams: For example, one of our senior physicians focuses almost exclusively on medicinal tumor therapy, while our transgender team also employs a plastic surgeon and a gynecologist. This way, we can ensure that we always achieve the highest quality in all areas – especially with new and innovative treatment approaches.

Urology Clinic Munich - Planegg DaVinci Robotic Systems — The DaVinci robotic systems reduce hospitalization times for many procedures

Wirtschaftsforum: What was the last particularly significant innovation at your clinic?

Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair: We have put into operation two DaVinci robotic systems, staffed by a team of five operators trained specifically for these devices. Together, they perform approximately 800 procedures per year with these devices, giving us a great deal of expertise and experience. Although acquiring these instruments was very costly, it was essentially without alternative—since its benefits for the patient are obvious. For instance, hospitalization times have been significantly reduced for numerous procedures, while certain operations, such as the removal of smaller kidney tumors, can sometimes even be performed on an outpatient basis.

Wirtschaftsforum: What organizational changes is your clinic facing today?

Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair: Our facility also needs to adapt to the increasing shift towards outpatient medical services, which will be further intensified in the coming years: For this purpose, we are already planning the construction of an extension for an outpatient surgery center and will also continue to expand and intensify our Medical Care Centers in the near future.

Urological Clinic Munich - Planegg Treatment Room — A privately owned clinic can implement innovations faster than in public ownership, Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair is convinced

Urology Clinic Munich - Planegg Team — The individual specialty departments regularly coordinate to pool their competencies

Wirtschaftsforum: What role does the increasingly intense cost pressure in healthcare play for your clinic?

Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair: In the 25 years of our existence, we have never had to report losses, but have always enjoyed positive financial results – this is not in contradiction to patient-centered and optimal medical care, but rather an indispensable prerequisite for it. Our clinic is backed not by public legal entities but exclusively by private owners who would step in in case of financial difficulties. The benefits of this clinic structure are also felt by our patients: We can decide much more quickly on which new equipment and procedures we want to invest in than an academic hospital – and this ultimately also affects personnel decisions: After all, our entire management staff consists exclusively of doctors who continue to have daily intensive contact with patients.

Wirtschaftsforum: How do you view the political framework conditions in healthcare?

Prof. Dr. Martin Kriegmair: There are indeed some misguided incentives that need to be eliminated: For example, a considerable portion of the fees earned must be paid to health insurance companies when the agreed quota is exceeded and more patients are treated than required. This is not sensible given long waiting times for surgical procedures and the existing challenges of demographic change. Today, patients are usually so well informed about their healthcare providers and centers that they can reliably make an informed decision on whose care they entrust themselves to. This is exactly what we should be supporting sustainably!