Salzkammergut-Klinikum Bad Ischl reports success with guest patient model

The Salzkammergut-Klinikum Bad Ischl has reported positive results five months after implementing a new patient care model for residents of the Ausseerland region in Styria. Since April 2026, patients from the Liezen district have been treated as guest patients at the Upper Austrian clinic.

Medical Director Christian Dopler stated that the cooperation has not resulted in increased waiting times or postponed medical procedures, largely due to a massive increase in staffing levels at the Bad Ischl facility. The clinic expects to treat approximately 300 inpatient and 2,500 outpatient patients from Styria annually.

The ‘Ischl Model’ utilizes a fixed fee paid by the respective federal state for each guest patient, a system designed to create synergies and save resources. This approach has garnered interest from other Austrian federal states seeking similar solutions for cross-border healthcare, although a nationwide standardized solution for guest patient management has yet to be established.