Panvascular medicine. Organisational forms of vascular medicine in Germany [Panvaskuläre medizin: Organisationsformen der Gefäßmedizin in Deutschland]

Within German hospitals different organisational concepts for vascular medicine coexist. Organisational forms are realized depending on diagnostic and therapeutic facilities and local structures of the hospitals. Concepts based on the coexistence of different specialities in centers for vascular medicine are certified by the German Society for Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine. These centers work successfully if the division of tasks is clearly defined in a service and patient-oriented manner. In many hospitals total vascular care is established as an organisational alternative with different therapeutic options complementing each another instead of being competitive. Therapeutic decisions are based on the patients individual risk constellation and on the morphology of the lesion to be treated. Colleagues and patients appreciate that conservative, surgical and interventional treatment options are all offered by one vascular specialist surgeon. © Springer-Verlag 2012.