Sint Maartenskliniek on the move

The Sint Maartenskliniek in Nijmegen is a hospital that specialises in posture and movement, and the control of these. It has three basic specialities: orthopaedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation techniques. There are over 300 beds, 400 places for outpatient treatment and an extensive outpatients’ clinic. The clinic has its own department for scientific research. The research results are used to develop new treatment methods. In its field, the Sint Maartenskliniek is therefore among the leading institutions in the Netherlands and in Europe. Because of the expertise available to it, the hospital also fulfils the role of a training centre.

About 1,500 people work at the hospital, including 80 specialists and assistant nurses in training. 25,000 people are treated every year at the Sint Maartenskliniek. Patients come from both the local area as well as from the rest of the Netherlands. The clinic covers the entire spectrum of disorders, from the simple to the very complex. The needs and expectations of the patient are central considerations in determining the treatment. The patient and the practitioner define the goals together, aimed at enabling the patient to function again, or function better, in daily life at home, work or school.

The clinic cooperates with other institutions in the region, including the St. Radboud University Medical Centre and the Groot Klimmendal rehabilitation centre in Arnhem. The clinic also participates in the Rhine-Waal EU Region and in a cooperation project (CARS) with the Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, UMC St Radboud and the Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem.

Mr P. Hoppener and Mrs B. de Jong make up the Administrative Council. "The slogan of the Sint Maartenskliniek is ‘On the Move’", they say. "As an organisation, we do net let the grass grow under our feet. The public demands a care sector that takes the needs of the patient as its point of departure. What we want is a good standard of care for everyone who requires it. Hospitals are expected to be proactive in order to reduce waiting lists so that people do not have an unacceptably long wait for an operation or treatment. The Sint Maartenskliniek wishes to make a contribution to achieving this by establishing a national chain of four or five orthopaedic clinics. Plans are now at an advanced stage for building or setting up orthopaedic clinics of this type in cooperation with a number of hospitals."