Green light for primary care center in the south of Linz

The decision was eagerly awaited: yesterday the Curia of the Upper Austrian Medical Association gave the green light for the establishment of a primary care center in the south of Linz. This is intended to close a long-standing supply gap. As is well known, there are five unfilled health insurance positions there, and another general practitioner is retiring in September.

More on the subject: “Primary care center in the south of Linz would ease the situation”

The new primary care unit (PVE) could serve up to 10,000 patients. In view of the large urban development projects on the former barracks area and the summer grounds, where around 3,000 apartments are to be built in the next few years, this seems sorely necessary.

Three doctors from Enns found PVE in Ebelsberg

The PVE was founded by three veterans. Wolfgang Hockl, Katharina Winkler and Andreas Rinnerberger are already working at PVE Enns. The idea of ​​the three experienced doctors is to do the founding and development work and then hand it over to younger colleagues within three to five years. They will then also withdraw as shareholders. The background is that many young doctors would like to work in a PVE, but are afraid to start one. “Setting up a PVE requires a lot of know-how, from personnel management to business administration, which is something we simply don’t learn in our studies,” says Johanna Holzhaider, deputy chairman of the board for resident doctors. 45 people are currently employed at PVE Enns.

Seven years of experience

The Enns colleagues who opened their PVE in 2017 – the first in Upper Austria at the time – have this know-how and, above all, experience. “We have learned a lot over the years and have a lot of things in mind that we would do differently today,” says Hockl. The supply in Enns will not worsen, but there will be more work for the Enns colleagues until the new ones in Linz are trained. According to Hockl, there are already interested parties. Wolfgang Gruber is no stranger to taking over the management; among other things, he is in charge of the commercial affairs of PVE Enns.

Also read: Urgent search for land for a medical center in the south of Linz

Yesterday’s decision by the Curia of the Medical Association was necessary because Doctors are actually allowed to occupy a maximum of one and a half positions, not two – unless they receive the sanctity of the chamber. Formal approval from the ÖGK is still required, but this is considered certain.

Transitional solution in containers from July 2025

The founders are still keeping a low profile regarding a location for the PVE. From today’s perspective, it is most likely that the PVE will be located on the former barracks site in Ebelsberg, where the old barracks buildings are currently being renovated and adapted for residential use. In order to be able to start as early as possible – July 1, 2025 is planned – there will be a container solution for the transition. Discussions with the landowner, the WSF Private Foundation, are likely to go well.

More on the subject: Primary care centers: A successful model with small flaws

Medical Association President Peter Niedermoser and the chairman of the state office committee in the ÖGK, Albert Mahringer, speak of a “success story”. “Hockl proved in Enns that it works,” says Mahriger. Niedermoser emphasizes that the joint and careful approach of the Medical Association and the ÖGK made this success possible. He finds calls from politicians unnecessary. Ultimately, it is committed doctors who drive the establishment of a PVE.

Bundled competence

In a PVE, a team of general practitioners and other health and social professionals are there for the patients. As a rule, specialists from the fields of occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychotherapy, speech therapy, psychology, dietetics and social work are employed at the same location. PVE have a health insurance contract with all statutory health insurance companies. There are currently eleven primary care units in Upper Austria, including three in Linz: the PVE in the Grüne Mitte, the “Hausarzt am Domplatz” and, since the beginning of the year, the “Kinderarzt am Domplatz”, the first primary care center for pediatrics and adolescent medicine outside of Vienna. A PVE for the south of Linz has already been advertised 22 times in recent years – so far without success.

Ebelsberg local councilor Michaela Sommer (VP) helped in the background. She is happy that it worked now. “It’s really important that we get this, you can see that persistence pays off.” City Councilor for Health Michael Raml (FP) says he has discussed the construction of a large health center with the WSF private foundation. “It’s still in its early stages “But I’m sure that by establishing a PVZ in the south, we can take away the worries of many Linzers,” says Raml.