BetaKlinik - Bonn, Germany

mmglobal · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 03:18 AM

Place holder for description / pictures from my first trip to the BetaKlinik.

mmglobal · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 03:25 AM

Sorry for using the place holder above, but I'm remiss. I have not posted about my trip to the BK. I'll fill it in soon. I'm leaving tomorrow morning on what should be a great trip. I posted a little about the BK on another thread and have included it below.

My plans have changed and I'll not be driving from Zwickau to Bonn, with a stop in Bottrop for some indoor skydiving. Instead, I'll be flying on Saturday from Zwickau to Munich and will spend the weekend there. I look forward to spending Sunday morning with the incredible Dr. Baumach.

I don't think I can squeeze it in... perhaps indoor skydiving on Friday night?

Wish me luck... I understand it's "bloody cold" there now!

Mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmglobal

What Jeff wrote above is so true. The new ATOS clinic in Munich has little resemblance to the now defunct AlphaKlinik. In the spine patient communities that I've participated in since 2000, when we talk about the AlphaKlinik, we were really referring to Hoogland Spine. The AK was made up of 3 separate businesses, Dekkers Spine, Dr. Toft's Knee center, and Hoogland Spine. They shared hospital and rehab facilities, but were separate, even competing businesses. Dekkers was quite aggressive with his MISS procedures and seemed to have much more legal trouble than did Hoogland or Toft. Dr. Bertagnoli was unrelated to the AK except for a brief period of cooperation with Dekkers, but that didn't work out very well or last for very long. He was never a principle of the AK and doesn't have anything to do with the demise of the AK.

What Dr. Hoogland built in Hoogland Spine was amazing. Hoogland specialized in MISS. Dr. Zeegers handled the larger spine surgeries, including lumbar and later, cervical ADR. Dr. Blome was an internist who was a treasure and handled all of the Hoogland Spine cases in the most efficient, thorough and professional manner. Dr. Baumbach was an amazing addition that gave the AK the best diagnostic team and system that I've seen anywhere. The willingness of Dr. Zeegers and Dr. Baumbach to put the time needed into the diagnosis, collaborating or arguing about a confusing puzzle has lead many patients to correct diagnoses that would not have been possible (IMHO) anywhere else in the world. (Read Lorna's story on the GPN story pages.)

I truly lamented the passing of the AlphaKlinik, knowing that I might never see the ready collaboration of diagnostic geniuses in an environment that gives them the highest quality imaging systems available and all other diagnostic disciplines available on short notice.

Last March, I had the opportunity to visit the BetaKlinik in Bonn. This is a much more convenient setup for Dr. Zeegers and his home is in Maastricht, Netherlands, just over an hour drive from Bonn. To work in Munich, he had to maintain two homes. I want to make very clear that the BetaKlinik is not just a convenient place for him to do surgery.

The BetaKlinik facilities are like the AK's were... and then some. The owner, Dr. Jeurgen Reul, is a neuro-radiologist. His assessment of cases is unlike any other doctor's I've seen. He views films in a different way and he sees things that others don't. He has incorporated a perfect location with first-rate facilities and state of the art diagnostics. Real-time CT-guided procedures... no problem, you can do it there.

When I was there in March, they were the first and only center with an open MRI that could do total spine, functional MRI's. (Weighted and with flexion/extension series.) They also have superior, full digital xrays (no film)

In addition to the great diagnostics of Zeegers, Reul and Dr. Axel Jung (neurosurgeon), Dr. Hoogland will also perform surgeries there.

For surgeries that are not appropriate for a surgery center, they have operating privileges at Asklepios Hospital, one of the finest hospitals in the region.

One of the best things about the now defunct AlphaKlinik was the rehab center, and especially the Gyrotonics studio. They were planning on adding a Gyrotonics studio to their rehab center in May. I'll be there in a few weeks, so I'll update you on their progress.

While Dr. Baumbach is still in Munich, many of Dr. Zeegers patients still use him. They'll stop in Munich before coming to Bonn and Dr. Baumbach will participate in the diagnostic process, just as he did for the AlphaKlinik.

I can't say enough good things about the BetaKlinik. I've had clients go there, but I've not gone with them yet. I'll be going there soon and will update as soon as I can.

All the best,

Mark

JeffreyD · #3 (**permalink**) 12-08-2010, 08:51 PM

Mark,
If you're staying at the Kameha (get ready for the acid-trip hallways) next door to the Beta Klinik, you may want to try a meal next door at the Rohmuhle. Very good!

Have an awesome trip,
Jeff

Maria · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 07:32 AM

Of "acid trip hallways"!!!

mmglobal · #5 (**permalink**) 12-10-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffreyD

Mark,
If you're staying at the Kameha (get ready for the acid-trip hallways) next door to the Beta Klinik, you may want to try a meal next door at the Rohmuhle. Very good!Jeff

What do you mean "acid-trip hallways?"

I grew up in California in the '60s... this seems quite normal to me.

dshobbies · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2010, 04:53 PM

Love it, love it, love it. The only thing missing is a black lite.

Maria · #7 (**permalink**) 12-10-2010, 07:32 PM

Oh that's right.. I only take prescription drugs!

JeffreyD · #8 (**permalink**) 12-10-2010, 08:19 PM

Wait 'till you see the moon over the bed!
Hey Mark, if you walk across the railroad tracks to Rammersdorf, there's a really good Bakery with great sandwiches and all the good German bakery stuff. You'll see it; it's right on the corner at Konigswinterer.
I couldn't make the walk prior to the procedure I had at the Beta Klinik, but 2 hours after the procedure, Pauline and I walked to it with no problem.

Have a good trip!

Jeff

fuzzy · #9 (**permalink**) 12-17-2010, 08:56 AM

Oh good to hear that Baumbach is still there. I need to see him!

mmglobal · #10 (**permalink**) 12-17-2010, 11:31 AM

Fuzzy, he's stilll down in Munich. I still see him in his effnerstrasse office across from the old AK. What he does is still so unique that I'll still stop with clients in Munich for an exam with him, even though we will ultimately be in a far-away city for evaluations or treatment with the surgeons.

I look forward to catching up with you soon. I think I may have something new that could be important for you, Jeff and others.

Mark

JeffreyD · #11 (**permalink**) 12-22-2010, 03:47 AM

While we are on the subject of the tremendously unique Kameha Grand Hotel next to the Beta Klinik.... I have never, and I mean never, stayed at a hotel with as genuinely kind employees as this place.
As Dr. Zeegers told me when I visited with him at the Beta Klinik last month, "It's not camping".

Merry Christmas!
Jeff