THE CLINIC
The Földiklinik in Hinterzarten
The Földiklinik is a specialist clinic for lymphology, where inpatient and outpatient treatments for diseases of the lymphatic system are carried out. All statutory and private health insurances, pension insurance providers, and professional associations are responsible for funding.
Our philosophy is to combine medical progress with high humanitarian standards. We offer integrated forms of treatment under one roof: medicinal, physical, and surgical therapies, including emergency care.
The Team at the Földiklinik
At the Földiklinik, you will be cared for by a highly qualified team that supports you on your journey to your personal goal. The collaboration of the interdisciplinary, lymphologically skilled medical team with experienced physiotherapists, nursing staff, psychotherapists, dietitians, certified wound therapists, hygiene officers, and social counselling ensures the optimal care of our patients.
Prof. Dr. med. E. Földi
Dr. Med. Martha Földi
Sylvia Dirscherl
Management
Dr. med. Michael Oberlin
Specialist in Internal Medicine
Dr. med. Tobias Bertsch
Specialist in Internal Medicine
Certified Adiposologist (DAG, DDG),
Specialist Certification of Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE),
Emergency Medicine,
Dipl. Social Educator
Dr. med. Ina Rüsing-Kohsiek
Senior Consultant
Specialist in General Medicine,
Specialist in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine,
Additional Qualification in Physical Therapy, Emergency Doctor,
Social Medicine (Course A-H)
Dr. Dr. Claudia Seger
Consultant Physician
Dr. med. Regina Kluge
Consultant
Specialist in General Medicine,
Diabetologist DDG,
Nutritional Medicine Specialist,
Certified Adiposiologist (DAG, DDG)
Dr. med. Susanne Luz
Senior Physician
Specialist in Neurology/Geriatrics
Dr. med. Kathrin Jung
Doctor
Dr. med. Susanna Wolf
Lymphology
Additional focuses: Bariatric counselling, Laboratory, Specialised pain therapy
Dr. Ulrike Walz-Eschenlohr
Doctor
Rodica-Iulia Gruia
Doctor
Cristina-Alexandra Gruia
Specialist in Internal Medicine
Havva Ilgaz
Ärz tin
Assil Abdurahim
Doctor
Mission Statement
We, the employees, feel committed to the long tradition of holistic patient care at the Földiklinik. To ensure the best possible medical, therapeutic, and nursing care, we focus on what matters most – the person.
Our actions are based on empathy, expertise, and the goal of sustainably supporting our rehabilitees on their journey to greater quality of life and independence.
The chronic condition of lymphedema requires a bio-psychosocial treatment concept that takes into account medical, psychological, and social aspects equally. Together with our patients, we define individual rehabilitation goals and support them in actively taking responsibility for their health.
Through targeted training, guidance, and motivation, we promote understanding of the condition as well as a conscious approach to one’s own life situation. We prepare patients to implement what they have learned in the clinical setting into their everyday lives sustainably – as a foundation for long-term quality of life and participation.
Our communication is characterised by respect, empathy, and openness. We are committed to providing barrier-free, discrimination-free, and inclusive healthcare – regardless of age, gender, origin, religion, or disabilities.
Our multiprofessional teams work collaboratively across different disciplines, valuing each other and maintaining collegial relationships. All staff contribute their skills and personalities for the benefit of the patients in rehabilitation and for the further development of the clinic.
In our interactions with relatives, referrers, and partners in the healthcare sector, we maintain open, transparent, and solution-oriented communication on an equal footing.
Research, teaching and continuous development are central components of our work. Our aspiration is to remain a leader in the field of lymphology in the future – both in patient care and scientific advancement.
Through forward-looking research, a close integration with teaching, and targeted knowledge transfer, we ensure optimal diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation for our patients.
We utilise modern scientific findings and digital technologies to continuously improve medical and therapeutic procedures, communication, and organisational processes. In doing so, we act with a focus on quality, efficiency, data security and ethical responsibility.
The ongoing conceptual and structural development across all areas of work contributes to maintaining our innovative capacity – and securing the long-term competitiveness of the Földiklinik.
Qualified, committed employees are crucial for the quality of our work. We support their professional and personal development through targeted training and further education, interdisciplinary exchange, and an open, learning-promoting atmosphere.
We understand leadership as the task of providing direction, enabling participation, and sharing responsibility. Our leaders create reliable conditions for autonomous action, transparency, and trust.
Health promotion, team spirit, and the compatibility of work and private life are integral parts of our corporate culture – they ensure long-term motivation and stability.
We understand sustainability as an integral part of our actions – ecologically, socially, and societally. We handle resources responsibly, rely on energy-efficient and environmentally friendly processes, and promote a strong environmental awareness in the daily operations of our clinic.
As a regionally rooted institution, we take on social responsibility in the Hochschwarzwald region. We are committed as an employer to social sustainability, promote the health of our employees, and strengthen the local community.
At the same time, we see it as our duty to contribute to raising awareness about chronic conditions such as lymphedema and to enhance the health literacy of both our patients and the public.
Our aim is to make a sustainable contribution to the preservation and improvement of the quality of life in the region – today and for future generations.
Focus Areas
Focus Areas of Inpatient Treatment:
- General Lymphology
- Oncological Lymphology
- Pediatric Lymphology
- Gynaecological Lymphology
- Geriatric Lymphology
- Obesity-Associated Lymphoedema
- Wound Management
- Complex Vascular Malformations
- Treatment of Lipoedema Syndrome
- Lymphological Surgery in Cooperation
Indications
Primary Lymphoedemas:
Caused by congenital malformations of the lymphatic vessels.
Secondary Lymphoedemas:
Limbs, chest, head/neck, genitals following cancer treatments and in cases of cancer recurrence as well as after surgeries.
Post-traumatic Lymphoedemas:
Following accidents and severe infections.
Obesity-associated Lymphoedemas:
Lymphoedemas caused by significant overweight.
Multi-causal Lymphoedemas:
Lymphoedemas resulting from multiple conditions.
Complex Vascular Malformations:
Accompanied by lymphoedema.
Malformations of the lymphatic vessels of internal organs:
- with protein-losing enteropathy
- with chylous effusions in the thoracic and abdominal cavities; reflux.
Lymphoedema Combinations:
- post-thrombotic syndrome with or without open wounds.
- Phlebolymphoedema in cases of varicose veins.
- Oedemas in connection with rheumatic/orthopaedic/neurological conditions and CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).
Lipoedema Syndrome
Diagnostics
- Internal clinical physical examination and laboratory tests
- ECG
- Long-term blood pressure monitoring
- Echocardiography
- Ultrasound of the abdomen, thyroid, and soft tissues
- Ultrasound of lymphoedemas
- Lung function test
- Duplex ultrasound of arteries and veins
- Special lymphological function tests (Streeten test, cream test)
Research
Only through scientific work addressing questions relevant to the lymphatic system will the field of lymphology grow. Conversely, neighbouring fields can be enriched with lymphological aspects through this interface.
The European Research and Funding Association for Lymphology (EFFL e.V.) supports clinical research projects and participates in various collaborations and fundamental research projects.
Certificates
The aim of quality management is to continuously improve services while optimally using the available resources and achieving the highest possible patient satisfaction.
The Földiklinik - international centre for lymphology - has successfully met quality management criteria since 2004. Currently, the Földiklinik is certified according to ISO 9001 and QMS-Reha.
Stoßwellentherapie
QMS-Reha
TOP Arbeitgeber im Mittelstand 2024
Gutes Essen in der Reha
The Földiklinik - Pioneers of Lymphology
The Földiklinik, founded in 1979 by the physician couple Prof. Dr. med. Michael and Prof. Dr. med. Etelka Földi, has been at the forefront of lymphological treatment in Germany for over four decades. As a specialised clinic, it has not only revolutionised the care of patients with lymphoedema but has also significantly contributed to the development and establishment of complex physical decongestion therapy (KPE).
In April 1979, the Földiklinik was established in Feldberg-Altglashütten as a specialised clinic for lymphology. The Haus Sommerberg, a former spa facility of a savings bank with 60 beds, was rented by the couple Prof. Dr. med. Michael and Prof. Dr. med. Etelka Földi.
After appropriate renovations, the clinic was authorised for patient care according to § 30 GWO and classified as a specialised hospital by the payers according to § 184 RVO. Within a very short time, the demand for lymphological treatment increased, leading to the rental of a nearby hotel with 22 beds (Haus Brunk).
The medical staff at the time consisted of 4 doctors, 8 nurses, and 14 therapists. These were years of improvisation, and there was a spirit of new beginnings: patients were pleased with the newly created opportunity to receive treatment for their lymphoedema in a specialised clinic.
Similarly, the treating doctors and therapists were increasingly gathering lymphological experience and optimising individual diagnostic and treatment strategies. Already at this time, the interdisciplinary principle of lymphological patient care was established: patients with secondary lymphoedema following cancer therapies were treated in collaboration with the oncology centre of the University Hospital of Freiburg.
Lymphoscintigraphy and other imaging examinations were conducted at the Emmendingen District Hospital.
As early as 1979, Professor E. Földi received the authorisation from health insurance for lymphological consultations, which allowed for outpatient lymphoedema treatment alongside inpatient care. Manual lymphatic drainage was supplemented with further measures in the clinic and established as complex physical decongestive therapy.
Today, complex physical decongestive therapy (CPDT) is recognised as the foundation of conservative lymphoedema treatment, integrated within an internal medicine overall concept.
The therapeutic successes were convincing. Numerous doctors from both domestic and international backgrounds visited the specialist clinic, as did hospital operators and health politicians; the founding of a model clinic, supported by the federal and state governments, was planned and welcomed by the clinic founders.
After this plan failed in Stuttgart, the clinic management took initiative and, without shying away from risks, ensured the further development of the lymphological specialist clinic:
The Földi couple acquired the Hotel Weißes Rößle in Hinterzarten, which had 96 beds at the time. After extensive renovation work, the Földi Clinic was able to reopen its doors there on 24 September 1986. In line with the new requirements, the number of employees increased: 7 doctors, 15 nurses, 24 physiotherapists, as well as service personnel.
The expansion of the clinic was reflected not only in the increase in bed numbers but also in the optimisation of the interdisciplinary treatment of our patients.
The demand for therapy places continued to grow. Despite the first health reform laws in 1989, plans for an expansion of the Földiklinik with 37 beds were presented to the cost bearers. In 1992, a new ward could then be opened.
The second phase of expansion also began with 37 beds in 2003/2004. Today, the Földiklinik has 152 beds across 4 wards, which have been named after pioneers of lymphology. From the outset, the Földiklinik has always been characterised by teamwork and a good atmosphere among the now 170 employees.
Collaboration with the University Hospital Freiburg has expanded, and a cooperation agreement has been concluded.
Within the clinic, specific focuses have been established, such as paediatric lymphology, which involves the care of children with congenital lymphedema, oncological lymphology, which pertains to the care of patients with secondary lymphedema following cancer, and geriatric lymphology, which addresses the treatment of older patients with lymphedema and often numerous comorbidities.
Another focus of the Földiklinik is the interdisciplinary care of patients with lymphedema caused by obesity. Comprehensive dietary counselling, exercise programmes, and psychological support have been established.
Particularly Attractive Location in the Black Forest
The Földiklinik is located in a particularly attractive area of the Black Forest, offering patients a variety of opportunities. The nearby town of Hinterzarten invites leisurely strolls and coffee breaks, while the surrounding nature is ideal for therapeutic activities.
Depending on their physical condition, patients can choose from various movement options - from a simple walk to Nordic walking. Excursions in the region, such as to Freiburg or Lake Titisee, are also possible. Through these shared activities and similar health conditions, close friendships often develop between patients.