The program includes:
- Initial presentation in the clinic
- clinical history taking
- review of medical records
- physical examination
- laboratory tests:
- complete blood count
- biochemical blood analysis
- inflammation indicators (CRP, ESR)
- alpha-1-antitrypsin
- x-ray and bronchography
- electrocardiogram (ECG)
- high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)
- collected three sputum samples
- pulmonary function test
- blood gas analysis
- bronchoscopy with biopsy
- histological and microbiological examination
- bronchial lavage
- nursing services
- development of individual treatment plan
Required documents
- Medical records
- Chest X-ray, MRI/CT scan (if available)
Service
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About the department
The Department of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery at the Hirslanden Clinic Aarau offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with lung diseases, including lung cancer, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea and chronic bronchitis. The department also has successful experience in the treatment of lung cancer, which is carried out in cooperation with the Cancer Center Hirslanden Aarau. To provide high-quality patient care, the medical facility has excellent technical infrastructure, highly qualified medical personnel and professional nursing staff, which provides responsive care. The Chief Physician of the department is Dr. med. Robert Bettschart.
The department's tasks also include the implementation of preventive measures against the development of lung diseases. First of all, such measures include smoking cessation. Each patient is offered an individual smoking cessation program, which includes individual counseling.
The department also provides pulmonary rehabilitation, which aims to increase working capacity, endurance and, consequently, quality of life. The rehabilitation is extremely important for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma. The rehabilitation is provided on an outpatient basis, without obligatory hospitalization.
The department's range of medical services includes:
- Pulmonology
- Diagnostics of lung tumors
- Body plethysmography
- Arterial blood gas test
- Spiroergometry
- Bronchoscopy using the cutting-edge technical options, for example, endobronchial ultrasound
- Thoracoscopy
- Pleural puncture
- Diagnostics of respiratory allergies
- Drug therapy for pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, emphysema
- Drug therapy for shortness of breath, chronic cough, chest pain
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for lung cancer
- Thoracic surgery (special focus on cancer surgery and videoendoscopic surgery)
- Removal of lung tumors
- Removal of lung metastases in tumors of a different location
- Removal of thymic, pleural and thoracic wall tumors
- Surgical treatment of emphysema
- Surgical treatment of pleural empyema
- Surgical treatment of chronic inflammatory processes in the lungs (tuberculosis, bronchiectasis)
- Surgical treatment of lung injuries
- Surgical treatment of diaphragm paralysis, diaphragmatic hernia
- Prevention of lung diseases (individual smoking cessation programs)
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Sleep medicine
- Treatment of chronic snoring
- Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
- Other diagnostic and therapeutic options
Curriculum vitae
Clinical Interests
- Sleep medicine.
- Pulmonary function testing.
- Bronchology.
- Inhalation and oxygen therapy.
- Bronchial asthma treatment.
- Diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy.
Professional Career
- 1999 - 2000 Senior Physician, Department of Pulmonology, Clinic Barmelweid.
- 1998 - 1999 Assistant Physician, Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Basel.
- 1997 - 1998 Assistant Physician and Deputy Senior Physician, Department of Pulmonology, Clinic Barmelweid.
- 1997 Department of Pulmonology, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
- 1995 - 1996 Assistant Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich.
- 1993 - 1995 Assistant Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Municipal Hospital in Zurich.
- 1992 - 1993 Assistant Physician, Department of Nephrology, Municipal Hospital in Zurich.
- 1991 - 1992 Assistant Surgeon, Hospital Richterswil.
Education
- 1990 State Medical Exam.
- 1984 - 1990 Study of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich.
Memberships in Professional Societies
- Swiss Society for Pulmonology (SGP).
- European Respiratory Society (ERS).
- American Thoracic Society (ATS).
- British Thoracic Society (BTS).
- American College of Chest Physicians.
- Swiss Society for Sleep Research, Sleep Medicine and Chronobiology (SGSSC).
Photo of the doctor: (c) Hirslanden AG
About hospital
The Hirslanden Clinic Aarau enjoys the status of one of the largest and most successful private medical facilities in Bern and Zurich. The clinic is part of the Hirslanden Network known in Europe, which is a provider of first-class medical services in Switzerland.
The main areas of specialization of the clinic in Aarau include cardiology, cardiac surgery, abdominal surgery, urology, oncology, neurosurgery, spinal surgery and orthopedics. The Department of Obstetrics annually delivers more than 700 babies. The high professionalism of the clinic’s medical staff, as well as the excellent technical base, make it possible to successfully cure not only common pathologies, but also very complex clinical cases.
All efforts of doctors and nursing staff of the clinic are focused on meeting the needs of patients and best possible restoration of their health. The work with patients is based on an individual approach to each clinical situation. The clinic has 155 beds for inpatient treatment. The surgical treatment is provided in 7 operating rooms with all the necessary surgical instruments, computer monitoring systems, navigation devices, robot-assisted systems for sparing laparoscopic operations.
Since 2010, the clinic introduced a unified quality management system, which includes all clinics in the Hirslanden Network. The clinical performance indicators and patient reviews are provided in the annual reports available to all those who want to see them. At the moment, the clinic rating is 8.9 out of 10 possible points – based on patient reviews. The clinic is also the first and only health facility in the canton of Aargau, which medical services were certified in accordance with the new ISO 2016 standards.
Photo: (с) depositphotos
Accommodation in hospital
Patients rooms
The patients of the Hirslanden Clinic Aarau live in cozy rooms equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay in the hospital. Each patient room has an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet. The standard patient room includes an automatically adjustable bed, a bedside table, a wardrobe with lockers for storing personal belongings, a hairdryer, a table and chairs for receiving visitors, a TV and a radio. The patient rooms also have Wi-Fi access. If desired, the patients can live in enhanced-comfort patient rooms, which are additionally equipped with a safe, a refrigerator and upholstered furniture.
Meals and Menus
The patient and the accompanying person are offered a daily choice of three menus. If you are on a specific diet for any reason, you will be offered an individual menu. Please inform the medical staff about your dietary preferences prior to the treatment.
Further details
Standard rooms include:
Religion
The religious services can be provided upon request.
Accompanying person
During the inpatient program, an accompanying person may stay with the patient in the patient room or at a hotel. Our managers will help you choose the most suitable option.
Hospital accommodation
During the outpatient program, you can live in a hotel at the clinic.
Hotel
During the outpatient program, you can live in a hotel of your choice. Managers will help you choose the most suitable options.