Chemnitz doctors and nursing experts visit Chinese twin city Taiyuan
Cooperation agreed between Chinese and German clinics and social institutions
Taiyuan and Chemnitz have been twinned since 1999. This initially began with economic contacts, which have since been supplemented by a variety of encounters in different areas - be it cultural, sporting, communal or, as in the recent past, medical. Last autumn, Chemnitz was awarded the "Prize for Exchange and Cooperation with China" for its bilateral contacts, and at the same time, links were forged between medical professionals from both cities. A delegation of doctors and nursing experts travelled to Chemnitz in autumn 2012. They visited medical and social facilities and concluded an agreement on cooperation between Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and Taiyuan Municipal Second People's Hospital.
The most recent visit by a group of visitors from Chemnitz to the Chinese twin city was also devoted to medical matters, travelling to Taiyuan from 13 to 20 October. The group included Dirk Herrmann, Commercial Director of the Zeisigwaldkliniken Bethanien Chemnitz and its Medical Director, Dr med. Rosemarie Sämann, as well as the Managing Director of Heim gGmbH, Karl Friedrich Schmerer, and Sebastian Thieswald from the management of SenVital GmbH Senioren- und Pflegezentren. They held discussions with Chinese partners on medical topics, including geriatrics, care services and hospice work.
The German clinic representatives and the managing directors of the social care centres were also interested in Chinese healing methods such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). As part of these contacts, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Zeisigwaldkliniken Bethanien Chemnitz, which belongs to the edia.con Group, and the Central Hospital in Taiyuan. Future bilateral cooperation will focus on a continuous exchange of information on medical treatment and patient care, among other things. In addition, the training of specialised medical staff is to take place and further training of doctors in the respective partner clinic is to be facilitated.
In addition, both hospitals are interested in knowledge and technology transfer, for example on new research findings, quality assurance in medical services and also on hospital management and IT issues. During their visit to the Zeisigwaldkliniken Bethanien last year, Chinese doctors showed great interest in the clinic for internal medicine and rheumatology. As a specialised care provider, it is responsible for the entire Chemnitz region and the surrounding area.
The Chemnitz hospital, meanwhile, is planning to set up a department for traditional Chinese medicine and is counting on expertise from China.
A cooperation agreement between Heim gGmbH and Taiyuan Municipal Second People's Hospital was also signed during the week-long visit to Taiyuan. The latter also concluded a similar agreement with SenVital GmbH Senioren- und Pflegezentren.
Among other things, the agreement focuses on training Chinese geriatric nurses in Chemnitz from next spring, as well as a regular exchange of information on geriatric topics.
Karl Friedrich Schmerer, Managing Director of Heim gGmbH, gave a lecture on various geriatric topics to a Chinese audience of experts and was subsequently appointed a visiting professor at Taiyuan Municipal Second People's Hospital.
In addition, during the visit to Taiyuan, the representatives of both city administrations explored areas of further cooperation. In addition to co-operation in the medical field, topics such as bilateral vocational training in the skilled trades were also discussed. Meanwhile, the Chinese once again announced their intention to send participants to the next Chemnitz Marathon and, for the first time, to the running culture event. Artisans will also once again enrich the Chemnitz City Festival.
Contact: The visit to the twin city of Taiyan was accompanied by Uta Richter from the Mayor's Office of the City of Chemnitz, who can be contacted on 0371/488-1522, e-mail: Uta.Richter(at)Stadt-Chemnitz.de.