How to be Prepared for a Crisis with Prof. Frederik Wenz, MD | Christoph Zindel

06/22/20 • 25 min

In times of crisis, one of the best advantages an organization can have is to be prepared. Readiness doesn’t just mean knowing what to expect. It’s really about having efficient processes, transparency, and open communication already in place, so that when a crisis strikes, you’re used to performing your job in a way that seamlessly adapts in an emergency.

Our guest today is Dr. Frederik Wenz, President and CEO of the University Hospital in Freiburg, Germany. He began his career in Heidelberg at the German Cancer Center, eventually specializing in Radio-oncology and Therapy. He then transferred to Manheim University Hospital as CEO, where he established the Department of Radiotherapy and Radio-oncology.

Dr. Frederik Wenz joined Freiburg University in January 2019. Freiburg is not only one of the largest universities in Europe, it's also recognized as one of the most technologically innovative hospitals in the world, offering advanced modern technical support. Their use of telemedicine and teleradiology allows patients from anywhere in the world to access highly qualified specialists.

Today we discuss how systems the hospital already had in place gave them a unique advantage in operating efficiently during the height of COVID-19.

Some Questions We Ask:

What methods did your hospital take when the crisis hit? (2:31)
How did you manage communication through the crisis? (5:04)
Do you see anything that will change permanently in your hospital as a result of COVID-19? (14:17)
How can we better prepare for the future? (19:28)
How has the pandemic affected your life? (22:49)
What advice do you have for people listening? (24:01)

In this Episode, you will Learn:

One unique way to manage company communication (5:29)
How remote scanning played a role in their operations (7:59)
Why cross-border relationships are important in times of crisis (11:51)
The 3 most important things learned during the crisis (16:32)
How the crisis has changed the way the hospital interacts with patients (21:22)

Learn more about Dr. Frederik Wenz:

ResearchGate

Siemens Healthineers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we discuss how systems the hospital already had in place gave them a unique advantage in operating efficiently during the height of COVID-19.

Some Questions We Ask:

What methods did your hospital take when the crisis hit? (2:31)
How did you manage communication through the crisis? (5:04)
Do you see anything that will change permanently in your hospital as a result of COVID-19? (14:17)
How can we better prepare for the future? (19:28)
How has the pandemic affected your life? (22:49)
What advice do you have for people listening? (24:01)

In this Episode, you will Learn:

One unique way to manage company communication (5:29)
How remote scanning played a role in their operations (7:59)
Why cross-border relationships are important in times of crisis (11:51)
The 3 most important things learned during the crisis (16:32)
How the crisis has changed the way the hospital interacts with patients (21:22)

Learn more about Dr. Frederik Wenz:

ResearchGate

Siemens Healthineers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Impact of COVID-19 in Hospitals with Alexander Norbash, MD | Christoph Zindel

The current pandemic has made hospitals ground zero across the globe. If we haven’t personally been admitted into hospital by the virus, we can easily imagine scenes of medical staff rushing through crowded corridors, shuffling past one another, concealed head to toe in blue PPE anonymity. At some point over the past three months, this has been the daily reality in every hospital.

How are hospitals managing during this unprecedented crisis? These are facilities well accustomed to “life or death” situations, but during a pandemic, downtime is a luxury that may never come. Yet, hospitals remain places of business that require management. Particularly in times of crisis, faculty need motivation to push on, and good leadership is more important than ever. University hospitals have the added challenge of overseeing a student population. Today, we’re getting a glimpse of what this crisis has been like from inside one of the top ranked University hospitals in the world.

Our guest is Alexander Norbash, MD, an Interventional Neuroradiologist from the University of California, San Diego, where he is the Chair and Professor of Radiology, and the Associate Vice Chancellor. There, his focus is on arteriovenous vascular malformations and intracranial aneurysms, and he was among the first clinician-interventionalists to develop and describe the technology of stenting for the carotid and intracranial arteries. Dr. Christoph Zindel is Member of the Managing Board of Siemens Healthineers and holds a Doctor of Medicine M.D.

SOME QUESTIONS WE ASK:

How is the current situation affecting you? (3:40)
How do you deal with this crisis on the University level? (6:01)
Do you have a crisis management process in place for these situations? (10:18)
How are you preparing for patients coming back?(16:31)
How is the pandemic shaping your research? (22:57)
What can healthcare learn from this pandemic? (31:05)

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How people find opportunity during times of crisis (2:23)
How the crisis has affected the University financially (8:12)
How to keep people motivated and morale high/ or The Importance of Gratitude (13:31)
The biggest current challenge facing this border region (20:44)
How diversity and inclusion are being addressed (tele-visits can be an equalizer) (27:13)

Learn more about Alexander Norbash, MD:

UCSD Profile: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/alexander.norbash

Publications: https://www.pubfacts.com/author/Alexander+Norbash

Scholar Citations: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rQYPnAcAAAAJ&hl=en

Head Injury Institute: http://www.headinjuryinstitute.org/about-us/leadership/alexander-norbash-md-mhcm-facr/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

What COVID-19 is Teaching us about Technology with Howard B. Chrisman, MD, MBA, FSIR | Christoph Zindel

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to teach us lessons, and there’s no doubt more are on the way. One thing we have learned already is that technology can be pandemic-proof. It’s helped to keep workplaces active and communication flowing despite physical offices being closed.

In the case of digital medicine, technology is demonstrating value far beyond its intended purpose. It allows us to virtually be somewhere without physically having to be there. Digital medicine has been an efficient multilateral tool as medical professionals across the globe require quick and effective communication between hospitals.

In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel interviews Howard B. Chrisman, President of the Northwestern Medical Group, Senior Vice President of Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, and Professor of Radiology focusing on Vascular and Interventional Radiology and Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We discuss how one Chicago hospital has weathered the COVID-19 storm, and the important role that digital medicine played during the early days of the crisis.

Some Questions We Ask:

● What has been your biggest challenge through COVID-19? (3:18)

● What is the current situation in your hospital? (6:00)

● What are your thoughts on a more digital healthcare system? (15:06)

● How do you apply testing to the population and what recommendations do you have? (21:18)

● How can we strengthen the healthcare delivery system after COVID-19? (26:26)

In this Episode, You Will Learn:

● How Chicago responded to the arrival of the virus (6:09)

● The story of one hero nurse at Northwestern Medical (10:30)

● Why this virus has been the “great disrupter” (14:23)

● The current process for new patients being admitted into the hospital (22:17)

Connect with Howard B. Chrisman: