Criticism of management style

Accident hospital: head surgeon is a “real narcissist”

The accident hospital on Salzburg's Rehrl-Platz belongs to the General Accident Insurance Institution (AUVA).

(Bild: ANDREAS TROESTER)

The head surgeon at Salzburg Accident Hospital is facing harsh criticism. Several ex-colleagues have come out and severely criticized his "military style of leadership" and his treatment of staff. The hospital announces measures.

There was no communication, no opinion. Anyone who said anything was shouted down. A climate of fear instead of respect prevailed for years at the Salzburg Accident Hospital on Franz-Rehrl-Platz, report two doctors from the "Krone" who have already thrown in the towel as a result. The situation has changed since the new head of trauma surgery took over in March 2020: "We had top people in every area until the new head arrived," says doctor Philipp Schultes.

He shouted around and belittled his colleagues. He is a real narcissist with a military style of leadership. He thinks he controls everything. We went to the management with our criticism, but we were put off.

Dr. Philipp Schultes über den Primar

He had only recently left the UKH: "The military style of leadership was no longer acceptable to me. In the beginning, like others, I let myself be dazzled by his eloquent manner. But now I know that he is a real narcissist." Like him, six other colleagues have left the hospital as a result.

Questionable style now triggers wave of criticism
Bernd Hiller, also a surgeon and former employee of the accident hospital, left in June 2022 and agrees in an interview with Krone: "Yes, he is a narcissist. And there are an incredible number of things that were annoying." The head physician favored people, shouted at them, everything had to be done his way, says Hiller: "For example, he wanted to operate on every class patient himself." Colleagues no longer wanted to come to work.

Doctor and ex-employee at the UKH, Bernd Hiller

(Bild: Hiller)

In four years, much of what was good was destroyed. "But the saddest thing is that there was no reaction from the hospital management for so long," emphasizes Hiller. Back in 2021, a doctor reported the same allegations to the hospital director for the first time - but nothing happened afterwards. Apparently until now.

The trauma surgery department at Salzburg University Hospital is affected

(Bild: Krankenhaus feldkirch)

After the allegations about the management style of the head of trauma surgery first became public on Friday, the AUVA regional office reacted at the weekend with the medical director Wolfgang Voelckel: "We investigate every allegation and consistently follow up on justified causes. As the sometimes harsh tone had caused complaints, measures were already introduced at the end of 2022. Progress was demonstrably made, but apparently not enough."

All allegations will be examined in detail. "Due to the obvious cultural divides that cannot be overcome, we are working on a solution to the situation." Talks are to be held today with all senior physicians about the matter.