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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
MHH closed the 2023 financial year with a smaller loss than originally expected Skills shortage remains a major challenge.
The year 2023 was a tough one. "We have faced the major challenges together - for the health of our patients, who are at the centre of our daily work," explained Prof. Dr Michael Manns, President of Hannover Medical School (MHH), at today's annual press conference. "In line with our integration model, employees from all professional groups in research, patient care and teaching have achieved outstanding results despite the global political and economic uncertainties. We would like to sincerely thank them for this - and at the same time hope that our work will be recognised by the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments."
The shortage of skilled staff has worsened and affects almost all areas of MHH, although nursing care is particularly affected. Last year, MHH was able to keep its headcount constant.However, the university was unable to compensate for the high increases in personnel and material costs due to inflation, as the so-called state base rate, the remuneration for inpatient cases in hospitals, only increased by 4.4 per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year and was therefore, as in previous years, below the inflation rate, which was 5.9 per cent in 2023.
Lower loss than expected
MHH was nevertheless able to close the 2023 financial year with a smaller loss than originally expected.With an increase in revenue of 4.2 per cent, the loss amounted to 10.9 million euros instead of the forecast 29.0 million euros."This is mainly due to the compensation payments from the state for energy price increases," explained Martina Saurin, Vice President responsible for business management and administration at MHH.With more than 11,000 employees, MHH remains one of the largest employers in the Hanover region.
"We work closely with the various committees, the Staff Council and the state government to improve both the quality of patient care and the working conditions for employees through concrete measures on site and more efficient structures in the healthcare system," emphasised Saurin.
Almost 110 million euros in third-party funds spent
A new all-time high in the amount of third-party funding raised should be emphasised: "Last year, MHH spent an additional 109.4 million euros on competitively acquired third-party funding for research," reported Professor Manns."Thanks to our great commitment to acquiring new research projects, MHH continues to rank third nationally in the DFG Funding Atlas in terms of third-party funding per professorship. We have also systematically developed our international collaborations."
The rural doctor quota was implemented in medical studies in 2023: In Lower Saxony, 60 study places, 18 of which are at the MHH, will be reserved each year for students of human medicine who commit to working as doctors in primary care in rural areas in the longer term after graduation.
Outpatient treatments expanded
While the number of inpatients fell by 3.2 per cent last year, the number of outpatient cases increased significantly by 6.8 per cent.The shortage of nursing staff remains the critical capacity bottleneck and the most common reason for hospital beds not being available overnight.The so-called case-mix index, the key figure for the case severity of inpatients treated, rose to 1.37 in 2023.
The state parliament of Lower Saxony made a milestone decision for the new MHH building in 2023: the financing plan for the first construction phase totalling 974 million euros, including the risk buffer, was approved.In 2023, MHH also took on the role of building owner and is now carrying out the renovation and maintenance of the existing buildings for patient care, research and teaching together.
"Integration model is forward-looking"
"Structural renewal alone is not enough for a successful future," emphasised MHH Vice President Prof. Dr Frank Lammert, responsible for patient care."Rather, it is the people who are decisive.MHH is in the midst of a generational change and is on an excellent path: last year, professorships, the Directorate of ursing and other management positions were filled with high-calibre new appointments. MHH's integration model has proven to be forward-looking and will enable us to master the upcoming changes resulting from the hospital reform in Lower Saxony."
The MHH Executive Board: Professor Frank Lammert (left), Martina Saurin and Professor Michael Manns. ...
Anna Junge
medJUNGE
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