Alpha Klinik insolvent?

mmglobal · #1 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 09:17 PM

Rumors are running rampant. I'm getting several calls and emails each day asking about this.

Most don't know that there were 2 separate spine centers running at the Alpha Klinik. Zeegers works for Hoogland spine. The other spine center, Dekkers spine was shut down weeks ago when Dekkers lost is license to practice in Germany. This has nothing to do with Hoogland spine and Zeegers.

The turmoil started when Dekkers shut down kicked of a chain of events that resulted in a declaration of bankruptcy. As of now, Toft Knee and Hoogland Spine centers will continue to operate with the same people doing the same job in the same place. Behind the scenes money folks have changed.

I have a client there this week, so I'll know more. I'll post what I can when I can. Stay tuned... more to come.

Mark

mmglobal · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2008, 04:51 PM

All of this started back in May. It's been tough watching this unfold. I've not posted, because with a fast changing situation and only hearing filtered information, I won't post what I'm not sure about.

Today, I spent the entire day at the Alpha Klinik. Everything is as Dr. Zeegers said. It's the same nurses, technicians, therapists, doctors, office staff, etc... providing the same excellent care that we've come to know and love.

Dekkers is gone.

I spoke to Dr. Hoogland today. As has been reported in the press, he will be retiring soon. I'm so sorry to see him stop practicing. I was privileged to see him in the OR on many occasions. Not only is he a pioneer and considered to be one of the fathers of modern endoscopic spine surgery, he's also a gifted diagnostician, inventor and is physically skilled in a way that allows him to do such delicate surgery with confidence. Many readers will remember that he did endoscopic surgery on my wife just over a year ago. He's still doing surgery now and I don't know when his retirement becomes effective, but when it happens, we will have lost an amazing resource.

I have not spoken to Jurgen Toft, but the press is reporting that the knee center at the Alpha Klinik will close and he'll resume operations in a new facility in Perlach, another suburb of Munich that is just a few miles from the AK.

The Alpha Klinik has been acquired by ATOS (www.atos.de). Press releases say that they will continue to operate the orthopedic and sports clinics. They also report that expansion of the facility is coming.

There us much more to come, but I'll only write what I consider to be reliable info, so I'll stop here.

All the best,

Mark

B13s · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2008, 11:08 AM

Probably would be worth mentioning that Alpha Klinik is now called ATOS Privatklinik München (ATOS Private Clinic Munich) and their website is ATOS Privatklinik München - Home

msgrappling · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 07:29 PM

He got in trouble for sexual harrassment on one of his nurses. His ego is out of control. I got the inside dope. Don't ask me how. He is an extremely skilled surgeon tho and I liked him personally. But it seems his sex drive drove him out of the building. it was real weird. He worked with Hoogland and Zeegers and was their partner. Then he "separated" into the office upstairs and started a feud that lasted for years which really caused a lot of confusion for patients wondering who was working where and all that. Then he got into legal trouble and now I guess he's out of the building for good. It's good too coz Zeegers is a great man and doesn't deserve having an enemy working right above him upstairs.
Spinal Stenosis from L1-L5
Cervical DDD C-3, C-6
5 lumbar decompressions all successful.
I need artificial disc replacement in the neck but insurance won't cover ADR, only covers fusion. I'm changing insurance companies.

Job13 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010, 05:03 PM

RIP Freedom of Speech

Crystal33 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-23-2010, 05:34 AM

Good digging beneath the surface Job13. Thanks. It's tragic that patients somehow need to be mindful that greed, ego and arrogance also exist in the medical industry. They are undisclosed additional risk factors that, at times, cause horrific outcomes for patients, such as yourself.

Nothing corrupts like money and medicine is BIG money.

Rather than keeping up with the latest mode mercedes benz I think that a tiny percentage of surgeons fees should be paid into a common fund that is overseen by an independent expert body and used to quickly and efficiently help patients who have been subject to medical harm. Also the body should have power to readily discipline doctors determined guilty of negligence or misconduct. Doctors would sulk at the thought but put any of them in your shoes and they would then have something real to sulk about.