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Introduction
Outpatient treatments have established themselves worldwide as a key pillar of modern medicine. Medical progress forms the basis of this development. As the first outpatient cardiac clinic in Switzerland, the Cardiance Clinic in Pfäffikon SZ has been demonstrating for ten years how outpatient treatments can be successfully applied in the field of cardiovascular diseases. However, the shift from inpatient to outpatient treatments is not automatic; it presents healthcare providers with considerable challenges. The transition requires not only technical adjustments but also a complete realignment of internal processes and responsibilities. Integration into existing healthcare networks is essential to ensure a seamless transition between pre- and post-operative care and to enable a rapid response in emergencies. Particularly important is comprehensive communication with the outpatient setting to guarantee continuity of care.
Actions must follow.
In the US, over 85 percent of all surgical procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Some of these outpatient procedures would be difficult to imagine in Switzerland. Indeed, Switzerland lags behind in the area of outpatient care. The reasons for this are manifold, not least because of financial incentives. As is well known, inpatient procedures are reimbursed at a higher rate than their outpatient counterparts. With the introduction of new treatment flat rates on January 1, 2026, this problem will be significantly exacerbated. Many of the new outpatient flat rates are inadequately calculated, which will place an even greater financial burden on healthcare facilities in the future and hinder structural change. This change is truly at stake.
Outpatient treatments combine significant medical benefits with substantial economic savings. Voters have set the course at the ballot box by approving the Unified Financing of Outpatient and Inpatient Care (EFAS). Now it’s up to those responsible in the healthcare system: action must follow so that everyone ultimately benefits.
