History
The Olgahospital was built in 1842 and named after Queen Olga of Baden-Württemberg. In 1974, the Olgahospital was municipalized. Currently, the hospital offers 5 pediatric departments as well as departments of pediatric orthopedics, pediatric surgery, pediatric ENT, pediatric radiology , pediatric anesthesiology and clinical genetics.
In total, 350 inpatient beds are provided. The Olgahospital is one of the biggest pediatric centers in Germany. In May 2014, the hospital moved to a new building in Stuttgart which offers the latest technical equipment and infrastructure.
Profile
The department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology is one of five pediatric departments with approximately 80 new oncologic cases per year. The department is chaired by PD Dr. Claudia Blattmann. The department offers treatment for all hematological and oncologic diseases occuring in children, adolescens and young adults, including autologous stemm cell transplantation. The department has six consultants, all of whom are board certified pediatric hemato-oncologist., who have long- standing expertise in pediatric palliative care. A pediatric oncologist with experience in palliative care is on duty 24/7.
Specialities
Olgahospital´s departement of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology has particular expertise in soft tissue and bone sarcoma. It is home to the study centers of the German Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology´s Cooperative Soft Tissue and Osteosarcoma Study Groups (CWS and COSS). Furthermore, the centre offers a close interaction between hematology, oncology and palliative medicine services by daily joint ward rounds and weekly interdisciplinary conferences. A close cooperation with the pain managment service of the departtment of Anaesthesiology ensures availibilty of non-invasive and invasive procedures. Since 2000, outpatient care at the patient´s homes is offered by a specialized team (“HOPPS“ – Häusliche Onkologische Pädiatrische Pflege Stuttgart). In 2016, a team specialized for outpatient palliative care (“KiPaCT“ – Kinder Palliativ Care Team) was initiated. To date, the team consists of five pediatricians, six nurses, case manager, one social worker, one psychologist and one priest, all of them trained in pediatric palliative care. There is a nurse and a pediatrician on call 24hrs per day. Patients with palliative diagnosis are treated at home in close cooperation with hospice services and other ambulatory services within a radius of 120 km surrounding Stuttgart.
Palliative and Supportive Care
Palliative care is provided by a counselling team on the inpatient ward and in the outpatient clinic as well as at home. The head of the department and two consultants are board certified palliative care specialists. One is head of the KiPaCT and HOPPS teams and organizes the care of the palliative inpatients. The other consultant is currently in training to become a palliative care specialist.
All physicians cooperate with specialised nursing staff, social workers, psychologists, nutritional specialists, physiotherapists and art therapists in all palliative care services. The palliative care counselling team‘s activities are not restricted to oncology, but include care for patients from all other departments of the Olgahospital.
Last update: July 2022
