In recent years, Balgrist University Hospital has played a central role in the establishment of spinal surgery using the keyhole procedure (endoscopy); both in the corresponding patient care on site and internationally in research and development. The EndoSpine Academy was founded to make this gentle and predominantly outpatient method widely available. Nine internationally renowned endoscopy specialists travel to Zurich from China, the USA, Mexico, Jordan, Argentina, Germany and Korea. The aim of the EndoSpine Academy is to provide selected surgeons with access to high-quality training in the technique of minimally invasive spinal endoscopy. The first EndoSpine Academy course will be held at Balgrist University Hospital on June 6-7.
Outpatient procedures are systematically promoted at Balgrist University Hospital, although the tariffs do not cover costs. Outpatient procedures meet the desire of patients to recover from an operation in familiar surroundings wherever possible. In addition, outpatient procedures help to reduce healthcare costs, a major concern of the two Balgrist directors, Prof. Mazda Farshad and Thomas Huggler. People treated on an outpatient basis make less use of the expensive infrastructure and do not generate costs for inpatient care and hotel services.
Spinal endoscopy can replace some inpatient treatments
For Professor Farshad, Medical Director of the University Hospital Balgrist, the use of endoscopy is key to sustainably reducing the costs of spinal treatments: “Spinal endoscopy not only has a significantly lower risk of infection than open surgery, it can also replace treatment methods that require hospitalization. This means that certain fusion operations can be avoided".
Thomas Huggler, Operative Hospital Director, supports this medical development, even though it means a potential financial loss for the clinic. “As what is now the largest spinal center in Zurich, with several locations, over 24,000 consultations and 1,500 operations a year, we see it as our duty as a university institution to establish the surgery of tomorrow for patients today.”
Contact for further information
Gregor Lüthy, Head of Communication
Balgrist University Hospital
+41 44 386 14 15
E-mail