New hires have increased by 6.2 percent compared to 2023, with around 12,000 applications received in the clinical sector. In total, there are 27,693 full-time employees. Meanwhile, Wigev handles three out of four hospital treatments in the capital, explained Medical Director Michael Binder on Thursday.

The staffing level has also risen to 94 percent for doctors and 95 percent in nursing in 2024. The increased capacities are likely necessary. In the outpatient clinics, the number of patients increased by 5.7 percent to 5.2 million last year, and inpatient by 3.3 percent to 243,636 people. This is because not only is Vienna growing, but the population is also aging, according to Binder. Additionally, certain diseases are currently becoming more common because "during the pandemic, there was a restriction on patient contact with medicine." This is an internationally observable phenomenon.

Modernization of Clinics in Vienna by 2030

To modernize its clinics and nursing homes by 2030, the Health Association is investing 3.3 billion euros, according to Deputy General Director Herwig Wetzlinger, with 30 projects alone to be completed for the Vienna General Hospital (AKH). To avoid disrupting operations in buildings undergoing renovation, wooden structures are also being used, such as the South Ward building at the AKH.

In addition, personnel recruitment is to remain a focus for Wigev. General Director Evelyn Kölldorfer-Leitgeb considers the current recruiting and advertising measures to be successful. Starting today, a new campaign under the motto "Preferably in Vienna" is being launched for customers to "make the services of the Vienna Health Association known."

Furthermore, Wigev is focusing on innovations in the field of digitalization. For example, AI is now being used in radiology - not for diagnoses, but "to save time during recordings and also to significantly improve recording quality with artificial intelligence," according to Michael Binder. Additionally, the Medical Director expects that the digitalization of pathological specimens will "completely change" the workflow in the field of pathology.

(APA/Red)

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