RKH clinics are struggling: 70 million euro deficit and reforms are pending!

RKH clinics are struggling: 70 million euro deficit and reforms are pending!

The RKH clinics in Ludwigsburg, Bietigheim and Markgröningen are facing significant financial challenges. A deficit of 48.3 million euros is expected in the 2024 financial year, while the company's total deficit for 2025 is estimated at around 60 million euros. The causes of these financial difficulties lie in increased personnel and material costs, a lack of skilled workers, a decline in the services provided and an increased dependence on temporary work. According to Stuttgarter Nachrichten, the orthopedic clinic in Markgröningen alone has a minus of 650,000 euros.

The changes in the healthcare system are forcing RKH Gesundheit to analyze savings potential in order to ensure financial stability. The Federal Council is calling for a four percent surcharge on the state base case value in order to close the financial gaps caused by inflation. Health Minister Nina Warken has also announced a more practical hospital reform, the concrete effects of which on clinic locations will probably not be announced until the end of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026.

Strategic realignment of the RKH clinics

As part of the strategic realignment of the RKH Kliniken, a new consolidation program and a long-term corporate and medical strategy entitled “Shaping Health Together” were introduced. This strategy, which includes medical, financial, human resources and infrastructure, aims to invest and save in a targeted manner while promoting growth. The current management structure will be strengthened by the appointment of clinic managers responsible for results, including Fabian Bunzel for the RKH Enzkreis clinics, Roland Walther for the clinics in the Karlsruhe district and Olaf Sporys for the orthopedic clinic in Markgröningen. The managing director of the RKH Kliniken Ludwigsburg-Bietigheim will be announced at a later date, reports RKH Gesundheit.

A central goal of the new structure is to strengthen the locality principle, which will create short decision-making processes and more responsibility on site. In addition, a clear separation is established between operational business and strategic management. A management conference is intended to act as an exchange platform between hospital managers and the group management.

Focus on staff and infrastructure

An important part of the corporate strategy is the comprehensive analysis of the personnel structure in order to ensure a data-supported determination of needs for 2024. This should lead to a targeted reduction in temporary work and an improvement in working conditions. According to reports, RKH Gesundheit is planning to increase the optimization of material costs and prioritize sustainable renovations of its existing properties. In this context, District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier emphasizes the need for clear political signals to relieve the financial burden on hospitals.

In order to retain skilled workers in the long term, the renovation of an apartment building in Bietigheim is progressing according to plan. In addition, a cooperation is being entered into with a foundation in Bietigheim-Bissingen to create additional apartments. In Kornwestheim, a further 17 apartments are to be provided by renting a residential building. The RKH clinics not only focus on financial efficiency, but also on the further development of medical care and the improvement of the working conditions of their employees.