The dermatology clinic had renowned chief physicians, including the discoverer of chondrodermatitis nodularis. Located in the Oncology building for a few years, Dermatology moved to the renovated former Women’s Hospital in 2010.
The first hospital in Lucerne was founded by the Benedictines in 1286; it was located on the site of the west wing of the Ritter Palace of today’s government building. Then in 1652, thanks to a generous donation from Schultheissen Heinrich von Fleckenstein, the citizens’ council laid the foundation stone for a new building on the upper ground; this new, large city hospital “zum heiligen Geist” was completed in 1660. When, with the adoption of the Poor Law in 1899, Lucerne assumed the obligation to admit all poor people to the hospital, the old hospital could no longer meet the needs. Thus, under the leadership of Dr. Schmid, then chief physician of medicine, the new building of the Cantonal Hospital was constructed. This was occupied in 1902.
The dermatological clinic was founded in 1936. The first chief physician was Dr. Eduard Frei. He was followed by Dr. Max Winkler, who made a lasting impression on the literature with his description of chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis, Dr. Karl Baumann and Dr. Josef Kaufmann. In addition to their work as chief physicians of the dermatology clinic, these physicians each ran an independent practice in the city of Lucerne.
The beginning of the present center
After the resignation of Dr. Josef Kaufmann in 2000, it was decided to provide dermatological care at the Cantonal Hospital with a full-time position. I myself was chosen to set up a dermatology department at the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and took up the post in February 2001.
In a first step, new private rooms were built for the care of inpatient dermatological patients. A first small outpatient clinic was established in an old ward room.
The outpatient area was continuously expanded in the following years, and after an initial move to the oncology building in 2003, the rooms of the newly designed outpatient center in the renovated old women’s hospital (now the Academy for Medical Training and Simulation) were occupied in 2010. In 2011, together with the allergist Dr. Gerhard Müllner, who was brought on board, the Center for Allergology and Dermatology was founded. Dr. Müllner, an internationally and nationally well-connected allergist, now heads this center together with me.
Uncomplicated networking
Inpatients are cared for on an internal medicine ward in the sense of integrated specialization. In the dermatology and allergology outpatient clinics, a chief physician, two senior physicians, a senior physician, two assistant physicians and eight MPAs currently supervise a consultation service with approximately 26,000 consultations annually. All areas of dermatology and allergology except histology are offered in Lucerne.
There is a close, uncomplicated network with the other specialties of the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital. Here in particular with oncology, plastic surgery as well as rheumatology. The clinic is well integrated in the Department of Medicine. The center is well represented in the departmental management by the chief physician, who is also the administrative head of rheumatology and oncology.
In addition to clinical activities, the center has a teaching assignment for the University of Bern as well as for students from Bern, Zurich and Basel working at the Cantonal Hospital Lucerne. It also performs a training function for the residents of the Cantonal Hospital. The Center for Dermatology and Allergology is an accredited Category C training facility.
Prof. Dr. med. Christoph U. Brand
