Geneva University Hospitals

The Geneva University Hospitals (French: Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, HUG) is one of the five university hospitals of Switzerland and the largest one in the country. It is also one of the largest hospitals in Europe.

First founded in 1535, the HUG as we know it today was created in 1995 when all public hospitals in Geneva joined together. Today, the HUG operates eight hospitals in the area of Geneva and has forty clinics where people can visit without staying overnight.

Description

The Geneva University Hospitals include 8 public hospitals, 2 clinics, and 40 outpatient care centers. They have more than 13,086 employees, including 9,513 nurses and doctors. This hospital serves not only the city of Geneva but also the rest of the canton and, together with the CHUV Lausanne, is a key hospital for French-speaking Switzerland. It is connected to the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine and is one of five university hospitals in Switzerland, with the others located in Basel, Bern, Lausanne, and Zurich.

History

The Geneva University Hospitals began a long history in 1602 when seven older hospitals joined together to form one big hospital. This hospital served many purposes, like caring for the sick, helping older people, and looking after children who needed a home.

Over the years, the hospitals changed and grew. In 1995, they became university hospitals, working closely with the University of Geneva. Today, they are known for advanced medicine and making sure everyone can get care. They continue to develop special centers for excellent care and research.

Historical dates:

• 1602 - The general hospital is founded by combining seven hospitals that existed in the Middle Ages.
• 1712 - Reconstruction of the General Hospital at the site where the Geneva Courthouse is located today.
• 1856 - Cantonal Hospital opens following the separation of social assistance duties, assigned to the General Hospice, and medical assistance duties.
• 1875 - Maternity Division is established on Prévost-Martin Street, and the construction of several buildings in the hospital district begins.
• 1900 - Two special care homes open outside the city for patients who are very ill but not contagious, and for mental health care.
• 1915 - The surgery building is built, helping Geneva become known for advanced medical care.
• 1943 - Construction begins at the Cluse-Roseraie location and continues for 50 years.
• 1961 - The Children's Hospital opens, helping young patients with research and teaching.
• 1972 - The Geriatric Hospital opens, now called Trois-Chêne Hospital, focusing on care for older people.
• 1992 - The Opera zone is equipped with modern operating rooms to meet advanced medical needs.
• 1995 - The University Hospitals is created and organizes public hospitals into medical departments.
• 2001 - Expansion work in Emergency, Maternity and the Children's Hospital is completed.
• 2011 - Two projects launch: BatLab for laboratories and research, and a new hospital building with rooms for one or two patients.
• 2015 - BatLab opens, a building dedicated to laboratories and research.
• 2016 - Clinics in Joli-Mont (Geneva) and Montana (Crans-Montana, Valais) join the HUG.
• 2017 - The new Gustave Julliard hospital building opens.
• 2023 - The "Maison de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence (MEA)" opens, offering care for children and young adults up to age 25.

Geography

The Geneva University Hospitals cover the whole area of Geneva. They have eight hospitals in six places: Cluse-Roseraie, Beau-Séjour, Bellerive, Belle-Idea, Loex and Trois-Chêne. There are also two clinics, one in Geneva at Joli-Mont and another in Valais at Montana.

The main hospital at Cluse-Roseraie has many important services like emergency care, operating rooms, and research labs. It also has a private area for patients. The maternity hospital is the biggest in Switzerland for births and has special care for mothers and babies. The children’s hospital looks after kids from birth to age 16 and is the only place in Switzerland for children’s liver transplants. Other hospitals focus on care for older people, rehabilitation, and mental health services. The Joli-Mont and Montana clinics help patients recover after surgeries or treatments.

Activity

Geneva University Hospitals, also known as HUG, have three main jobs.

First, they help people who are sick or hurt. They care for 500,000 people and handled over 146,000 emergency visits in 2024.

Second, they teach future doctors and other health workers. They work with the University of Geneva and train more than 1,230 doctors and about 204 students in different health fields in 2024.

Third, they do research to find better ways to help patients. They work with the university and get support from many organizations to improve medical care.

Structure

The Geneva University Hospitals are organized into many different centers and departments. Some of these include the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Intensive Care, the Surgery Department, and the Child and Adolescent Department. There are also departments for Gynecology and Obstetrics, as well as for Internal Medicine, Neurosciences, and Oncology.

The hospitals have special research laboratories, such as one connected to the Foundation for New Surgery Technologies. The hospitals are led by a board of directors, with many decisions made by a chief executive officer and an executive committee.

Personnel

The Geneva University Hospitals is one of the biggest workplaces in the area of Geneva. In 2024, about 13,086 people had jobs there, working in 160 different roles. Most of them, about 72.7%, were care providers and doctors. Another 14.4% worked in administration, and 12.9% helped with technical tasks and logistics.

Initial, continuing and post-graduate training

In 2024, the Geneva University Hospitals helped many people learn important skills for their jobs. They trained 954 doctors, 276 clinic leaders, 1,645 health workers, 204 apprentices, 1,365 students studying medicine, and 368 other trainees.

Associated institutions

The Geneva University Hospitals work closely with several important groups. These include the Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), the University Centre of Legal Medicine (CURML), and the École romande de santé publique (ERSP). These institutions help support the hospital’s research and education.

Notable affiliates

Geneva University Hospitals has been connected with many important doctors and scientists over the years. Some well-known names include Anne Beaumanoir, a brain scientist, and Julian de Ajuriaguerra, a mental health doctor. Others like Louis Jurine, a surgeon from the 1700s, and Didier Pittet, a modern expert in diseases, have also worked there. Many more talented professionals have helped make this hospital famous for its medical work.