Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Salzburg

The Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder in Salzburg is a general public hospital located in the Kaiviertel of Salzburg's old town, at Kajetanerplatz 1. It is operated by the Konvent der Barmherzigen Brüder Salzburg (the local convent of the Brothers of Mercy). According to Wikipedia, the hospital has 235 systemized beds and approximately 550 employees. Its departments include general surgery, anesthesia and intensive care, gynecology, internal medicine, plastic/reconstructive/aesthetic surgery, and radiology/nuclear medicine. The hospital also operates a public underground garage with 293 spaces, the Raphael Hospice Salzburg (the only inpatient hospice in the state of Salzburg), and is closely associated with the Kajetanerkirche, a Baroque church that the convent received in 1923. The hospital's history dates back to a church and hospital first mentioned in 1150, owned by St. Peter's Benedictine Abbey. In 1685, Archbishop Max Gandolf von Kuenburg contracted builder Giovanni Gaspare Zuccalli to construct a church, monastery, and seminary for the Theatine order. The church was consecrated in 1700. After the Theatine house was dissolved in 1809, a garrison hospital was established in the monastery rooms in 1810. On 26 May 1923, the former military hospital at Kajetanerplatz was transferred to the Brothers of Mercy, and on 7 August 1923 the hospital was solemnly inaugurated. In 1923/1924 about 70 patients were recorded. By 1935 the number of beds was increased from 100 to 130. During World War II, the hospital was run as a reserve military hospital; part of it was destroyed in the air raid on Salzburg on 16 October 1944. After the war, it was used by UNRRA and IRO as a hospital for displaced persons until mid-1950. In June 1947 the Brothers of Mercy regained their lease, and the hospital was reopened on 29 January 1951, with the first patients admitted in February 1952. In September 1953 the hospital passed from federal ownership to the Brothers of Mercy. Extensive expansion and modernization took place from 1955 onwards, including a new four-story bed wing (1963–1966), a new operating suite, laboratory, staff residence, and kitchen (1969–1980), transforming it from a nursing home into a modern hospital with departments of internal medicine, surgery, ENT, gynecology, urology, anesthesiology and intensive care, and radiology/nuclear medicine. In 1994 the first public department for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery was established. Today the hospital continues to operate as a general public hospital under the Brothers of Mercy, with a focus on patient-centered care and respect for creation, as reflected in its motto 'Es sind die Menschen, die uns bewegen' (It is the people who move us).

The history of the Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder in Salzburg begins with a church and hospital first mentioned in a document in 1150, owned by the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter. After a reconstruction of the building complex in 1602, it was demolished in the course of the 17th century. In 1685, Archbishop Max Gandolf von Kuenburg concluded a contract with the builder Giovanni Gaspare Zuccalli for the construction of a church, monastery, and seminary for the Theatine order (Kajetaner), who came from Munich. The financial basis was a donation of 24,000 guilders by the Bavarian Baron Georg Konrad von Lerchenfeld (1613–1689). Construction of the church began the same year. In 1686, the Italian stucco workers Francesco and Carl Antonio Brenno as well as Antonio Carabelli and the sculptor Andreas Götzinger (facade) began their work. After the death of Archbishop Max Gandolph in 1687, Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun und Hohenstein had Caspar Zuccalli and the Italian stucco workers dismissed, and construction was interrupted. In 1691, the Theatines were deprived of the previously promised training of seminarians; their tasks were limited to reading masses, preaching, and hearing confessions. The foundation capital was increased by the archbishop by 12,000 guilders, and further benefactors secured the furnishing of the church and monastery. After completion of the church, the consecration took place in 1700; it was dedicated to the patronage of Saint Maximilian of Pongau and Saint Cajetan of Thiene. In 1712, the Holy Stairs chapels were erected; the furnishing with paintings and altars lasted until 1740. After the dissolution of the Salzburg Theatine house in 1809, a garrison hospital was established in the rooms of the monastery in 1810, and the inventory of the church and monastery was auctioned off. On 26 May 1923, the former military hospital at Kajetanerplatz and its inventory were handed over in trust to the Brothers of Mercy, and on 7 August of the same year, the solemn handover and inauguration of the hospital took place. In 1923/1924, about 70 patients were recorded. In 1933, Prior Probus Künzel stated: 'Despite many purchases in the difficult economic times, the house stands debt-free.' In 1935, the number of beds was increased from 100 to 130. By 1937, the prosectorium and the laundry were established; in addition, the first patient and bed elevator was installed. After the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the Brothers lost decision-making authority. The hospital was run by the military administration as a reserve military hospital. The Brothers were allowed to continue working as nurses, and some of them were drafted for military service. After the destruction of part of the hospital during the first major air raid on Salzburg on 16 October 1944, the military hospital operation continued in the undamaged part. Due to the extensive damage, the Kajetanerkirche remained closed for a year. After the end of the war in May 1945, the Wehrmacht military hospital was continued until mid-1950 by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) and its successor organization, the International Refugee Organization (IRO), as a hospital for displaced persons. After difficult negotiations, the Brothers of Mercy achieved the re-recognition of their lease in June 1947 and thus the continuation of the hospital. The reopening and re-consecration of the hospital took place on 29 January 1951. In February 1952, the first patients could be admitted. Hospital operations began with 40 beds, a few weeks later 70 beds were available, and by the end of the year 127 beds. In September 1953, the hospital finally passed from federal ownership into the ownership of the Brothers of Mercy. Extensive expansion, conversion, and extension measures were carried out from 1955. In the period from 1955 to 1960, the Dachs house was purchased and the operating rooms, laboratories, patient rooms, utility rooms, X-ray department, pharmacy, and kitchen were expanded. A sterilization facility was also installed. A new four-story bed wing was built between 1963 and 1966. From 1969 to 1980, a new operating suite, a modern laboratory, a new staff residence, and a new kitchen were created, so that with the modernization, the hospital, which had been run more as a nursing home, became a efficient hospital with departments of internal medicine, surgery, ENT, gynecology, urology, anesthesiology and intensive care, as well as radiology and nuclear medicine. Between 1980 and 1990, in the course of the renovation work of the Kajetanerkirche, a connection between the church and the hospital was established. Surrounding buildings were purchased, and the old building and the inner courtyard were provided with basements to create new rooms. In addition, a general renovation of the Klassetrakt, the renovation and re-adaptation of the old staff apartments, and the construction of new staff apartments took place. In 1994, the first public department for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery was established.

• 1994

  First public department for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery established.

• 1963

  Construction of a new four-story bed wing begins (completed 1966).

• 1953

  Hospital passes from federal ownership to the Brothers of Mercy in September.

• 1951

  Reopening and re-consecration of the hospital on 29 January.

• 1947

  Brothers of Mercy regain lease rights in June.

• 1944

  Part of the hospital destroyed in the air raid on Salzburg on 16 October.

• 1935

  Number of beds increased from 100 to 130.

• 1923

  Transfer of the former military hospital to the Brothers of Mercy; solemn inauguration on 7 August.

• 1810

  Garrison hospital established in the former Theatine monastery rooms.

• 1700

  Consecration of the Kajetanerkirche.

• 1685

  Archbishop Max Gandolf von Kuenburg contracts Giovanni Gaspare Zuccalli to build a church, monastery, and seminary for the Theatine order.

• First documentary mention of a church with hospital owned by St. Peter's Benedictine Abbey.

A general public hospital rooted in the tradition of the Brothers of Mercy, combining modern medical care with Christian values and respect for creation.

• General surgery

• Anesthesia and intensive care

• Gynecology

• Internal medicine

• Plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery

• Radiology and nuclear medicine

1. 1Barmherzige Brüder Salzburgbarmherzige-brueder.at
2. 2Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder (Salzburg) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Salzburg – Wikidatawikidata.org