The transplant and heart failure ward at the DHZC is part of the intensive care department.

Ward WD3U/WD3I Transplant and heart failure ward

Heart and lung transplant patients spend the first post-operative phase on the WD3 ward. The WD3 team also cares for long-term transplant patients who have to be hospitalised as part of routine examinations, infection therapies or rejection treatments. Patients are also admitted to WD3 as part of listing examinations for a transplant. Surgical heart patients requiring monitoring, patients with circulatory support systems (artificial hearts) and decompensated heart failure are also monitored and cared for.

WD3 comprises 13 beds with a staffing level of 19 full-time positions. During the day, one nurse cares for up to four patients in WD3; at night, the ratio is up to six patients per nurse.

Each room is equipped with monitoring (connected to a central monitoring system at the base), dialysis connection, digital documentation management and the option of non-invasive ventilation. Due to this intensive care potential for the treatment of intensive care complex cases and a corresponding doctor and nursing key, ward WD3 is part of the Intensive Care organisational unit. A state-of-the-art lighting system in each room imitates a day and night rhythm that favours recovery.

Our team includes practice instructors, heart failure specialist nurses, transplant specialist nurses, a two-person management team and a ward assistant. The further training of the specialist staff was supported by the DHZC through leave of absence and funding. Our ward team is characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinary cooperation and therefore a pleasant working atmosphere.

The DHZC has paid particular attention to the topic of heart failure. There are regular information events with modular training courses for outpatients with heart failure as well as individual training courses for inpatients. As part of the certified supra-regional centre for heart failure, the WD3 ward has a high level of expertise through experience and training and forms a large part of the core heart failure team at the DHZC.