The Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité is the supra-regional heart failure centre in Berlin. It is certified according to the criteria of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK). We specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. We treat both patients with common conditions (e.g. dilated cardiomyopathy, severe heart attacks) and those with more unusual diagnoses (e.g. storage diseases or inflammatory heart muscle diseases including cardiac amyloidosis and myocarditis).
Comprehensive care for all stages of heart failure
Our services are tailored to the individual patient's situation. We treat both patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure or heart muscle disease for the first time and who have not yet received cardiological care, as well as patients who have been suffering from heart disease for a long time and are receiving appropriate cardiological treatment.
If their state of health deteriorates despite treatment, we examine further therapeutic options such as catheter-based and surgical options. We also initiate special treatment methods for patients with severe heart disease - including mechanical circulatory support or organ transplantation.
We provide expert advice and treatment for all levels and forms of heart failure; regionally and nationally.
Outpatient clinic for severe heart failure and cardiomyopathies
T: +49 30 4593-2540
Availability: Monday to Friday between 8:00 - 16:00
Head: PD Dr Bettina Heidecker
Registration by e-mail:kardio-cbf-hsa@dhzc-charite.de
Contact: Daniela Hinrichs, certified heart failure nurse at the DHZC
Availability: Monday to Friday between 8:00 - 16:00
After discharge from the clinic and the rehabilitation centre, the transplant outpatient clinic at the DHZC is the permanent point of contact for transplant patients - alongside the family doctor and specialist. Specialised doctors are available to answer all questions relating to transplantation. The state of health and function of the new organs are closely monitored at regular examination appointments. The examinations carried out include ECG and echocardiography appointments as well as X-rays and lung function tests.
Blood levels of immunosuppressants are also regularly determined and analysed. This is because the new organ would normally be recognised by the body's defence system as foreign tissue and attacked - comparable to the incompatibility between different blood groups. For this reason, the patient must take medication that regulates the defence system, known as immunosuppressants, for the rest of their life after the transplant. This is the only way the organ can be accepted by the body and function properly.
After the transplant, patients initially have to visit the outpatient clinic very often. Over time, however, the likelihood of a rejection reaction decreases so that check-ups become less frequent. The transplant outpatient clinic also provides advice on acute questions and problems and also looks after patients before the operation while they are waiting for a donor organ. Doctors and nurses work closely together in this process.
Accessibility for patients and doctors:
Telefon: 030-4593-2141, 030-4593-2140
Fax: 030-4593-2143
E-Mail: transplantations-ambulanz@dhzc-charite.de
Additional doctor-doctor contact: by e-mail
Certification
The German Heart Centre at Charité is the supra-regional heart failure centre in Berlin. It is certified according to the criteria of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK).
The DHZC has also been certified by the DGK with the additional qualification of heart failure. This certifies a qualification process for specialised cardiological expertise in heart failure in Germany.
Our networks
In addition to the DHZC and Charité, the specialists at the two centres have launched the Berlin Heart Failure Programme (BeHIP) . BeHIP has set itself the goal of improving the care of patients with heart failure in Berlin and the surrounding area together with other clinics and practices through a range of measures. These include networking outpatient and inpatient healthcare facilities, organising further education and training events for both doctors and nurses (e.g. to become a Heart Failure Nurse) as well as training for patients and their relatives.
In addition, the Transsectoral Heart Failure Network Berlin Southwest Brandenburg provides comprehensive care for patients with chronic heart failure together with specialist cardiological practices and GPs in the region and offers free training courses to provide them with valuable information on how to manage their condition independently in everyday life.
Further education and training
The Heart Failure Centre offers free training courses for heart failure patients. In our online course, we provide around 120 minutes of expert advice and dialogue with other sufferers once a month.
For medical assistants (MFA), healthcare or nursing staff or other medical professionals, we run an annual training course on specialised heart failure assistance certified and supported by the German Society of Cardiology (DGK). The next date is in March 2025.
