Comparing U.S. and German Health Care

Purpose:  To compare similarities and differences between various U.S. and German healthcare practices with a focus on wound care.

Introduction:  Ten wound care specialists from MD and PA were guests of the nursing department at Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany, September 9 to 17, 2008.  The program agenda arranged by the Heidelberg Nursing department included hospital and clinic tours, a visit to the nursing academy, a joint wound care symposium in German and English for eighty five attendees from the hospital staff, and medical lectures. 

Objective:  To differentiate similarities and differences between the U.S. and Germany in the following health care areas:  delivery of health care, health care insurance, nursing schooling and nursing licensure/certification, cultural differences affecting medical care, wound care, and palliative care.

Methods: On-site visits to various Heidelberg University Hospital clinics, professional round table discussions with nursing and medical staff, surgical grand rounds, a joint wound care symposium, and medical lectures.

Conclusion:  Our vist allowed for on-site observation of health care practices at Heidelberg and surrounding areas of Germany.  We were able to identify areas where we can improve our own health care practices and we shared professional experiences with our hosts that could help improve their health care practices.  We realized that we share many of the same problems related to delivery of health care and wound care.  We are continuing this exchange with a visit to MD and PA for nursing staff from Heidelberg University Hospital in the fall of 2009 to further share and explore areas where we can improve our practice.