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New holding company aims to sustainably improve medical care in Darmstadt – launch targeted for 2026
A future-proof hospital model is to be developed in Darmstadt: The City of Darmstadt and AGAPLESION gAG are currently working on establishing a joint holding company for the Darmstadt Clinic and the AGAPLESION ELISABETHENSTIFT. The goal is to sustainably secure and expand medical care for the city and the region. At the heart of the plans is a medical concept that combines the strengths of both hospitals and envisions restructuring at both locations.
Medical concept taking shape
The future holding company is intended to unite two high-performing locations. André Schellenberg, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Darmstadt Clinic, emphasizes: "A new hospital with two locations is being created based on a sophisticated medical concept. However, this requires significant investment." Funding from the State of Hesse and the Federal Government is therefore essential.
Dr. Markus Horneber, CEO of AGAPLESION gAG, also speaks of a model project: "The concept ranges from highly complex intensive care medicine to outpatient procedures. This creates a maximum care provider with attractive working conditions and prospects for specialists."
Division of tasks between the locations
The concept envisions a clear division of tasks:
- Elisabethenstift location : Focus on elective treatments, outpatient surgeries, geriatrics, orthopedics, eye and skin clinics, and psychosomatics.
- Darmstadt Hospital location : Internal medicine, cardiology, gastroenterology, and inpatient visceral and trauma surgery. The central emergency department will be significantly expanded.
Construction to begin in 2027 – focus on intensive care medicine
The necessary construction work is scheduled to begin in 2027 and last until approximately 2031. The first steps include expanding the intensive care center to 63 beds on Grafenstrasse. The consolidation of planned departments is slated to begin in 2028.
Clemens Maurer, spokesperson for the management of the Darmstadt Clinic, emphasizes: “Spatial changes bring challenges. It is important that the employees are involved early on. We want to grow together as a team before any physical changes take place.”
Accompanying change process and new corporate culture
Michael Nowotny, Managing Director of the Elisabethenstift, announces a comprehensive change management program: “We take any potential anxieties very seriously. The goal is to make the change structured and transparent.” A specially established culture team will develop a shared corporate culture.
Security of supply and new medical services
According to Dr. Jörg Noetzel, Medical Director of the hospital, another advantage lies in the long-term safeguarding of medical services: "We can comply with minimum volume requirements, establish new services such as neurological early rehabilitation phase B and ensure local care in Darmstadt and southern Hesse."
The holding company is scheduled to be established on January 1, 2026. Important decisions by the governing bodies are still pending before then. Both companies intend to keep their employees closely informed – including through office hours at both locations.
(DARMSTADT – RED/Vro)
