To be able to initiate specific examination and treatment measures, the responsible ward physician generally conducts an initial examination. In a personal interview the patient is asked about prior diseases and potential prior surgeries. The aim of this anamneses, as it is called, is to diagnose the background of the disease and to correctly classify the current health problem.

Therefore it is important to inform about previous preexaminations and to present respective medical diagnostic findings and examination results to the ward physicians. Own medicine should not be taken without discussing this with the ward physician, as that is the only way to exclude intolerances with medicine prescribed by the Hospital staff members. 

Prior to all surgeries and diagnostic interventions the attending physician conducts a special patient briefing in which he informs the patient about the necessity and kind of intervention as well as about potential risks and consequences. Commonly this requires special examinations to optimally prepare for the surgery or intervention. Imaging procedures such as ultrasound, X-ray or nuclear medical imaging are often to be carried out in specific departments.

The attending physicians inform themselves about the status of treatment during the daily ward round. The ward round, which mostly also involves an attending nurse, is carried out to discuss and explain the further course of the therapy and the necessary medical measures.
Once a week a “ward by the head of department”, as it is called, is carried out. In addition to the attending physician, the head of the clinic, the senior resident, residents and students are present. 

In case the treatment necessitates a surgery, the attending physician will inform the patient timely and in detail. At the latest on the previous day of a planned surgery, the ward physician will conduct a comprehensive patient briefing informing about chances and risks of the surgery and will give the opportunity to express possible concerns about the forthcoming intervention. The surgeries are always carried out in sequence determined the previous eve.

Should the planned interventions necessitate anaesthesia, a specially trained physician, the anaesthetist, will inform the patient about the possible way of anaesthesia on the previous day. The course of the anaesthesia is talked through.

Considering the patient’s personal wishes as far as possible, the anaesthetist will then choose the anaesthesia most appropriate for the patient in question.

Apart from the surgical interventions the conservative patient care, as it is called, mainly involves physical therapy and therapies using medication. These different ways of treatment are combined in practice to achieve the best therapeutic success possible.

Should examinations and treatment necessitate the consultation of medical specialists from other departments of the University Hospital, these consultations will take place either on the ward or in the department.