Medicine in Austria: treatment options in JCI accredited clinics

Austria is known not only for its beautiful landscapes and rich cultural heritage, but also for its high level of healthcare. According to WHO, the country’s health care expenditures are among the highest in Europe.

Life expectancy in the country is also above the EU average and is 81.2 years (83.8 for women and 78.6 for men). According to the international organization OECD Better Life Index, over 70% of Austrians consider themselves quite healthy and are satisfied with their medical care. This confirms the high quality of medical services in the country.

Why do patients choose Austria for treatment?

Austria attracts patients from all over the world with its high level of medical care, well-coordinated healthcare system and modern medical facilities. The Vienna University Hospital alone treats about 95,000 people and performs more than 50,000 surgeries annually.

5 medical institutions of Austria were accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), which testifies to the high quality of medical care and strict observance of patients’ rights.

Austria has one of the highest rates of doctors per capita (second highest in the European Union): 510 doctors per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the European average (350 per 100,000). This ensures accessibility of medical care and eliminates the shortage of specialists.

Austrian medicine and innovation

In the world of medical innovation, Austria presents amazing technologies and achievements. Recent developments confirm this fact.

For the first time in the world, Austria has developed an artificial leg that can not only mimic the movements of a real limb, but also transmit sensations. The prosthesis was first fitted to a 54-year-old Austrian man, Wolfgang, who had undergone a leg amputation. This breakthrough allows patients not only to return to a full life, but also to actively participate in sports.

Scientists from the Austrian Academy of Sciences have made a breakthrough in tissue engineering by creating an artificial heart from stem cells. The organ is not only able to contract, but also has a unique ability to regenerate tissue. This opens up new perspectives in the treatment of heart diseases and rehabilitation of patients.

The University of Vienna has contributed to the fight against cancer by introducing a new anti-cancer drug, NKP-1338. This drug, made on the basis of ruthenium (a metal from the platinum group), selectively affects tumors by triggering programmed cell death and inhibiting the activity of the GBR78 protein responsible for cancer cell resistance. This discovery opens new horizons in the treatment of cancer.

Leading areas of medicine

Doctors in Austria successfully diagnose and treat a wide variety of diseases.

Diagnosis

Patients often come to clinics in Austria to undergo a check-up, a comprehensive system of body examinations. This approach includes an initial examination by specialists such as a general practitioner, endocrinologist, gynecologist or urologist, as well as a final consultation with a general practitioner, during which the doctor interprets the results of all examinations and makes further recommendations.

The following check-up programs are the most popular in Austria:

• basic (prevention) program
• cancer check-up
• healthy heart program
• Women’s Health and Men’s Health programs
• healthy bowel program
• Hormonal health program and others

Thanks to check-ups, thousands of patients have been able to prevent the development of chronic diseases and detect pathologies at early stages, when they have not yet manifested clinically.

Urology

In the field of urology, Austrian doctors try to choose the least traumatic treatment methods. According to statistics, more than 75% of all surgical interventions are performed using endoscopic techniques, which reduces the risk of complications and speeds up patient rehabilitation. Robotic surgery is also successfully applied in urology, ensuring high precision and less traumatic operations.

In Austrian clinics, men suffering from prostatic hyperplasia can benefit from an innovative technique for minimally invasive treatment – convection ablation of the prostate gland with water vapor using the Rezum system. As a result of the surgery, prostate tissue is targeted for shrinkage under the influence of steam.

For the treatment of urological oncology, the clinics have successfully used cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation and chemoembolization.

Orthopedics

Austria is a country of winter sports. Therefore, one of the main areas of medicine here is orthopedics and sports traumatology.

Austrian orthopedists focus on both acute and chronic skeletal diseases, treatment of sports injuries and reconstructive surgeries. Doctors develop individual recovery programs after heavy training and monitor patients’ condition during active workouts.

Orthopaedic surgeons specialize in complex reconstructive surgeries, such as bone and joint reconstruction after trauma or congenital pathologies. The use of high-tech equipment and high-quality microscopes allows them to perform operations with high precision and minimal damage to surrounding tissues.

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