VU University Medical Center has consciously designed its structures and procedures to mesh with its social responsibility for sustainability in terms of relations with people, the environment, and profit. VU University Medical Center is tackling this in an innovative way, exceeding the minimum legal requirements.

In this way, VU University Medical Center is continually seeking new forms of care that are geared to society's requirements. A good example of this is the first University General Practice (UHP-VUmc). The obesity outpatients clinic for overweight children is yet another manifestation of this policy. The Alzheimer's Center and the VUmc Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA) are the very embodiment of socially relevant scientific research. The CCA is an example of enterprise in science.

VU University Medical Center Fund supports projects in VU University Medical Center by attracting additional resources in cash and gifts-in-kind, for patient care, training and research. Research of Alzheimer's disease, research of childhood cancer and the expert center for palliative care are the focus projects for the coming years.

VU University Medical Center in 2006
Number of beds  713
Number of cots 20
Total number of beds 733

Admissions 22,564
Day admissions 21,627
Average length of stay 7.1
Total number of admissions 44,2191
(including day admissions)

First visits to an outpatients department 118,327
Outpatients visits 315,4412
Accident and Emergency patients  36,669

Total number of staff at VU University Medical Center
Number of positions 4,960
Number of staff 6,476
Approx. number of distinct job types  400
patient-oriented staff  4,166
in nursing 1,382
academic staff 1,330

First-year students 350
Total number of students 2,267
PhDs awarded 99
MDs awarded 210
Scientific publications 2,000
Specialist publications and reports 146

Basic service area for VU University Medical Center: Aalsmeer, Amstelveen, Amsterdam, De Ronde Venen, Diemen, Haarlemmermeer, Landsmeer, Liemeer, Oostzaan, Ouderamstel, Purmerend, Uithoorn, Waterland, Wormerland, Zeevang and Zaanstad.

FOTO: Wies Vasmel, a hematologist and referring specialist who works at the Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis (a hospital in Amsterdam).
"With regard to collaboration, VUmc is a reliable partner. Direct consultation with a specialist, in an hematology/oncology center, 24 hours a day, is worth a great deal in terms of optimum patient care. Via VUmc, we too can have access to even more advanced diagnostic techniques. In this way we can profit from each other's qualities. The key phrases here are mutual appreciation and mutual respect. As often as possible, patients are treated close to home, by their own specialist. The training of junior house officers and assistant physicians also involves enthusiastic collaboration, with great emphasis on educational modernization at the Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis."