Anyone interested in a career change could find what they are looking for in the Ebersberg district this year. There is a very exciting position to be filled: the business management of the district clinic. The previous boss, Stefan Huber, will – as announced a long time ago – say goodbye to Starnberg and from now on steer the economic fortunes of the clinic there. He is already commuting back and forth between his job in Ebersberg and that in Starnberg on a daily basis before finally resigning from his previous position by the end of June at the latest. A successor has to be found for this by then – but that’s not going to be that easy.
Although there are a few applicants, a candidate has not yet been decided on, said District Administrator Robert Niedergesäß (CSU) recently during a press conference. This is probably also due to the fact that the requirement profile for this position is quite challenging. The applicant must of course be able to demonstrate economic skills, but also have a medical background. The district is thus deviating from its previous course, because Stefan Huber had hardly any experience in the healthcare sector before he became the head of the clinic. Instead, after studying business administration, he worked as the deputy head of the building authority for the community of Vaterstetten.
The new head of the clinic must have experience in medicine and business
According to the district’s wishes, his successor must now combine both disciplines right from the start – or, as Brigitte Keller, head of the central department at the district office, said: “You should be able to read a balance sheet.” District Administrator Niedergesäß added that you don’t necessarily have to have studied business administration and medicine, “but the applicant should already be able to demonstrate experience in both areas”. Although, according to Niedergesäß, there are already a few people interested in the position, apparently none of the candidates have so far met the requirements of the district. However, the district administrator was confident that the management post could be filled by the middle of the year.
This is also urgently needed, because the Ebersberg district clinic cannot afford a vacancy in the executive chair in these times. The hospital system is in a state of upheaval, many smaller hospitals are in the red or even have to close completely. “The district clinic is in a good financial position in comparison,” said District Administrator Niedergesäß, but the facility must now maintain this status during the hospital reform announced by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). According to this, patients in German clinics should be treated more according to medical and less according to economic criteria in the future. For this purpose, the hospitals are to be categorized into a new level system. The Ebersberger district clinic must at least achieve level II – i.e. classification as a standard and priority provider – otherwise it may even be threatened with closure.
However, Robert Niedergesäß considers it hard to imagine that this will actually happen. Although the clinic still has to make improvements in some areas, “I am very confident that we will meet the criteria”. One of the main tasks of the new clinic management will be to underpin the district administrator’s confidence with action.