At the upgraded Bergman Clinics focus clinics for Posture and Movement in Arnhem and Breda, specialised operations such as knee and hernia repair surgeries can be performed at significantly shortened waiting times compared to regular hospitals. In many cases, waiting times can be cut by as much as 50%.
The recent updates to the clinics have contributed to further shortening the wait times: people can typically schedule their first appointment within one to two weeks. Through rapid delivery of care and diagnostics in a single day, the Bergman Clinics for Posture and Movement offer a solution to the growing waiting lists for planned healthcare. Research by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) shows that the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021 led to approximately 305,000 postponed surgeries in hospitals. These delays were associated with a total loss of 320,000 healthy years of life. One of the conclusions of the RIVM was that the continuity of regular healthcare should be safeguarded whenever possible, for example by delegating care to external clinics.
With its focus clinics, Bergman Clinics helps to address the lengthening waiting lists and increasing demand for planned healthcare, especially within the growing demographic of elderly people in the Netherlands. The sooner surgeries are performed after problems emerge, the higher clients' quality of life is, and the more life years are spent in good health. The focus clinics are part of Bergman Clinics' strategy to respond to this growing need.
All healthcare services in a single day
The updated Bergman Clinics focus clinic for Posture and Movement in Arnhem opened its doors in late July. “Thanks to the improved design of the consulting rooms and the support of medical consultants at the polyclinic, we can help a substantially larger number of clients. At the same time, we can ensure that we can offer each client the time and quality they deserve,” said Bianca Gommers, Clinic Manager at Bergman Clinics for Posture and Movement Arnhem.
“With the addition of a diagnostics centre, including an MRI scanner, we are able to deliver a lot of the needed care in a single day. Within a few hours, a client can speak to a neurologist, have an MRI scan, and discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan with a doctor or surgeon. We are currently helping about 11,500 people a year. But in the near future, we will be doubling our operating rooms from two to four, so we will be able to help even more clients receive treatment faster. The updated focus clinic also has gotten a makeover, and clients appreciate the warm and calm atmosphere here.”
In Breda, the updated Bergman Clinics focus clinic for Posture and Movement was put into service in early September. Eight new consulting rooms were added to the polyclinic, allowing the clinic to see more clients per day. “Because we also opened a third operating room, we now have 50% additional surgery capacity. We went from being able to do 3,000 surgeries a year to 4,500, and we can help 15,000 clients instead of 10,000”, said Inge van Breda, Clinic Manager at Bergman Clinics for Posture and Movement Breda.