University Medical Center Groningen

The University Medical Center (UMCG) is the location of ISCOMS 2009. The hospital is the only university medical center in the northern part of the Netherlands, and therefore the final point of referral for many patients.

Patients go to the UMCG for basic care as well as highly specialist top clinical and top reference care, such as organ transplantation, complex neuro-surgery, neonatology, clinical genetics, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), paediatric oncology, renal dialysis and traumatology. All medical specialties are represented, as well as education programs for all medical disciplines. The final assessment of the specific disorder a patient is suffering from, is usually a matter of research. Especially when the disorder is rare, hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. The eight Dutch university medical centres, like the UMCG, have been appointed to render this top reference care. However, not every disease can be cured. That is why the UMCG devotes much attention to chronic diseases, pain relief, and palliative care. How to live with limitations - whether due to illness or disability - has to be learnt. After an illness or accident, rehabilitation is often necessary. The UMCG also provides this service. Research and development are combined with many years of practical experience in the Centre for Rehabilitation. 

City inside a city
With more than 8500 employees and 1300 beds the UMCG is one of the largest hospitals in The Netherlands. It is sometimes called ‘a city inside a city’, because of the architecture, with covered streets which lead to the nursing units and outpatients clinics. Moreover, thousands of employees provide numerous services to even a greater number of patients and visitors. Each year, many symposia are organized in the hospital, with participants from all over the world. There are shops, a branch of one of the national banks, gardens, as well as lunchrooms, in order to make patients less aware that they are in a hospital. This philosophy has led to a hospital that is unique in Europe. 

Transplantation Center
The UMCG is one of the very few hospitals worldwide that perform all organ transplantations. This does not only concern kidney-, heart-, lung-, liver-, and small bowel transplantation, but also combined organ transplantation, such as heart-lung, lung-liver, and liver-kidney transplantation. The UMCG annually performs over 150 organ transplantations. Apart from organ transplantations, also skin-, thin bowel-, heart valve, cornea-, bone- and bone marrow transplantations are carried out. 

Trauma Center
The UMCG is one of ten recognized trauma centres in The Netherlands. It has all the necessary specialties and facilities at its disposal to immediately treat patients from serious traffic accidents, work-related accidents or violent crimes. In addition, the UMCG has its own trauma helicopter. The UMCG's catchment area covers one-third of The Netherlands. Moreover, many locations are remote and difficult to reach. Therefore, a helicopter is indispensable in getting the specialized medical team, the Mobile Medical Team (MMT), quickly to the scene of an accident. The MMT consists of consultants who can anaesthetize patients on the spot, and are capable of performing small surgical procedures. The trauma helicopter is especially equipped for accident victims. For them, quick, high-quality treatment is crucial. 

For more information please visit the website of the UMCG