Authors: Markku J Kauppi Hanna Säilä Eero A Belt Markku Hakala
Publish Date: 2012/05/27
Volume: 31, Issue: 8, Pages: 1151-1154
Abstract
The first patient entered the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital Heinola Finland in July 1951 From that point on the hospital helped patients suffering from rheumatic disorders Specialists in the hospital actively developed treatments and published a large number of scientific articles in international journals The hospital was well known internationally among people working in the field Progress in the development of diseasemodifying medication biological agents in particular has dramatically improved the life of patients with rheumatic diseases but all effective treatments may also have adverse effects In this article we briefly review the history of the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital which was closed permanently in March 2010 due to bankruptcy The economical difficulties were caused primarily by the progress made in diseasemodifying therapy which decreased the need of rehabilitation and operative treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases It seems that a great success in biological agents can carry “serious adverse effects” which may kill hospitals This is an important primary observation which should be noticed when the future of specialised institutes is planned
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