Merger: medical concept ensures sustainable healthcare provision
One hospital at two locations: the clinics in Frankenberg and Korbach are to merge on 1 January 2026, subject to the approval of the district and town councils. In recent months, all strategic, organisational and legal preparations for the extensive project have been completed - including the development of a medical strategy for the joint facility.
Customised medical concept as the cornerstone of the merger
The central element of the merger is a customised medical strategy that meets the needs of the people in the region and combines the services of both locations under one roof. "The aim is to create a strong, supra-regional offering that meets the requirements of modern healthcare in rural areas," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Frankenberg District Hospital.
"The concept aims to maintain and expand specialised medicine, which will strengthen the quality of care in the region - sustainably and in particular under the requirements of the new hospital reform," says Stefan Kieweg, Mayor of the city of Korbach as the owner of the city hospital. The joint planning and implementation of this concept are decisive for the future direction of the new joint hospital.
Relevant factors precisely evaluated
When developing the medical concept, the services of the two hospitals were therefore analysed, various scenarios examined and strategic options for the future developed. Both the current range of services and the geographical location, as well as the competitors on the market and the case numbers, specialisations and special needs, as well as the population and service development from the catchment area played a role here - but above all: the requirements of the planned federal hospital reform, combined with the hospital sector plan of the state of Hesse. All factors were carefully evaluated in order to achieve the best possible medical care for the people in the region.
95 per cent of services to remain unchanged
The new plan will therefore look as follows: Almost all services currently offered in Frankenberg and Korbach are to be largely retained at both locations. Only the field of endoprosthetics - i.e. elective treatments for the implantation of new hip and knee joints - is to be bundled at the location of the specialised care provider in Korbach and the corresponding infrastructure. Frankenberg and Korbach have built up a high-quality offering here in recent years and are certified endoprosthetics centres. It could therefore be an interesting prospect to jointly develop into a maximum-care endoprosthetics centre in the coming years - and thus position themselves for the future in the market, even beyond the district's borders.
Millions for Frankenberg's central emergency department, gynaecology and stroke unit
The plan also envisages extensive investment at both sites by 2030 with the help of funding from the state of Hesse's special investment programme: The central emergency department in Korbach is to be modernised. Several million euros are also to be invested in the expansion and renovation of the Central Emergency Department in Frankenberg in order to expand emergency care capacity with additional rooms. There are also plans to completely renovate the gynaecological operating theatre at the district hospital and to expand the intensive care unit to include more stroke unit beds for stroke treatment. This will be accompanied by a significant expansion of neurology in the southern district: in order to improve stroke care, the establishment of innovative medical technology for the early detection of the stage of a stroke is also planned in Frankenberg.
Both sites will remain hospital centres
The merger will enable several million euros to be invested at both sites. The financial resources from the state of Hesse, which are specifically aimed at supporting hospital networks, will also ensure that the medical infrastructure of the two hospitals is modernised. The state of Hesse has already signalled that both Frankenberg and Korbach will remain hospitals - even after the merger.
This means that both locations will continue to receive financial support from the state of Hesse in the future. However, the district and city are planning to go one step further: After the merger, the district, as the future responsible body, will once again enter into detailed negotiations with the health insurance companies in order to negotiate the surcharges for different service areas in a targeted manner.
State of Hesse makes final decision
"Our plan is in place and we are ready to enter the race for the allocation of services by the state of Hesse as specialised hospital planning," explains Gerd Brückmann, who is overseeing the merger process as transformation manager at the district. "Ultimately, the state of Hesse has the final say here and makes the final decision on the actual allocation of medical services. We are confident that our well-founded and well thought-out medical strategy will meet with a favourable response."
Improving the financial situation
This would not only ensure optimal medical care for patients in Waldeck-Frankenberg in the long term, but would also be a fundamental step towards improving the financial situation of both hospitals. The structural deficit will remain. However, the hospital reform will result in further financial burdens due to the elimination of small service groups with low case numbers and the increased conversion of inpatient treatment into outpatient services. The merger will significantly counteract this further deterioration in the financial situation, which is becoming apparent for both sites.