From the City Hospital to the Rüsselsheim Health and Care Center
Although the City Hospital on August-Bebel-Straße was officially opened in 1956, the history of healthcare in our city actually began several decades earlier—a history that was closely linked to the name Opel in its early days …
During the American occupation of Rüsselsheim after the end of the war, the Opel company set up a makeshift hospital with 100 beds in the rooms of the Opel Villa. With the city taking over administration in September 1945, the first “Rüsselsheim City Hospital” was formally established. The city of Rüsselsheim grew rapidly after the war, so that as early as the end of 1951, an architectural competition was announced for the design of a new hospital building. After a construction period of just over three years, the opening of the City Hospital—which at the time had 408 beds—was finally celebrated in June 1956. The previous, old City Hospital closed its doors on July 1, 1956.
The 1960s
The development of the city and the surrounding area made a first expansion necessary after only eight years. The five-story addition, which opened in 1964, housed a separate infectious diseases ward as well as expansions of the surgical and gynecological departments. At the same time, a staff residence and the nursing school were completed.
Thanks to these expansion and renovation measures, the city hospital now had 488 beds and a staff of 343 employees. By this time, a surgical, internal medicine, gynecological, pediatric, ear-nose-and-throat, ophthalmology, and radiology department, as well as a bath department with all necessary facilities, had been established, all of which met the latest standards in hospital construction and equipment. In 1968, the surgical outpatient clinic, along with an administrative wing, was incorporated into the City Hospital.
The 1970s
The 1970s were marked by continuous growth: This began in 1972 with the expansion of the student dormitory, followed in 1974 by the establishment of an intensive care unit, including an internal admissions office. In the same year, a central laboratory and a central dishwashing facility were added, a hemodialysis unit was put into operation, and a central heating system was constructed. In 1975, a second staff residence with 48 apartments was completed.
The 1980s
In 1985 and 1986, the hospital opened new operating rooms, a new radiology department, and a surgical intensive care unit, followed by a cafeteria with a canteen, a central sterilization unit, and a bed management center. In 1990, with the completion of the second expansion phase, the Surgical Outpatient Clinic, the Internal Medicine Admissions Unit, the Hemodialysis Unit, and the Internal Medicine Intensive Care Unit moved into their former premises.
The 1990s
In the 1990s, the city of Rüsselsheim once again provided financial support for a wide range of construction projects at “its city hospital.” As a result, a new patient transport hall and a renovated geriatric ward began operations in June 1994, alongside the new pharmacy. The construction of the third staff housing building at the end of 1995 represented a further improvement in the housing situation.
In May 1999, after several years of construction, the hospital completed the first phase of a complex new inpatient building. 150 of the then 510 beds were located in this new building. The rooms were equipped to modern standards with private bathrooms and toilets. On the lowest floor, the Department of Physical Therapy moved into spacious facilities.
The 2000s
At the end of 2002, a new staff residence was built to replace the old one, which was in need of renovation. In addition to several two- and three-bedroom apartments, it offers spacious one-bedroom apartments specifically for nursing students.
With the inauguration of Ward B in 2004, the City Hospital also celebrated its conversion into a non-profit limited liability company (GmbH) and, as part of the GPR Health and Care Center, is now known as the GPR Clinic.
The GPR Health and Care Center Rüsselsheim now brings together under one roof the GPR Klinikum, the GPR Outpatient Care Team, the GPR Medical Care Center (MVZ) with locations in Rüsselsheim, Nauheim, Raunheim, and Mörfelden, the GPR Senior Residence “Haus am Ostpark,” and GPR Service GmbH.
In September 2011, construction began on a new therapy building, marking another milestone in the advancement of medical care at the GPR Clinic. In July 2012, the range of medical treatments available on the GPR Clinic grounds was expanded with the addition of a radiation oncology center.
In March 2015, after three years of construction, the new Ward and Functional Building C was inaugurated, with construction costs totaling 39 million euros. The new building not only further improved medical care provided by the GPR Clinic but also set new standards for patient accommodations and interior design. The internal medicine functional and diagnostic units were consolidated directly adjacent to the expanded emergency room at the base of the new building, making them readily available for the care of patients in the internal medicine wards located above. In addition, the intensive care units were significantly expanded. On the floors above, the geriatric clinic—complete with a beautiful walking garden—and three additional internal medicine wards were established.