St. Josef

Amidst the bustling heart of Freiburg im Breisgau stands St. Josefskrankenhaus, a place where history and healing intertwine. St. Josefskrankenhaus has witnessed the ebb and flow of life for over 130 years. It was founded in 1886 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Originally, St. Josefskrankenhaus housed a surgical private clinic and a gynecology department with maternity services. The hospital quickly expanded. In 1912 and 1913, a new building was added. This provided space for an internal medicine department, an operating room, X-ray facilities, and outpatient clinics. The hospital’s dedication to education also flourished. A nursing school was established and received state recognition in 1920. St. Josefskrankenhaus played a crucial role during wartime. It served as a military hospital in World War I. It provided care to civilians during World War II. Tragically, the hospital was largely destroyed during a bombing raid on November 27, 1944. Only the large tiled entrance hall remained unscathed. The resilient spirit of St. Josefskrankenhaus shone through. The destroyed buildings were completely rebuilt by 1951, followed by the motherhouse and its church. Further expansions continued throughout the years. A “garden wing” added 60 beds. In 1978, a new functional wing brought four new operating rooms, modern sanitary facilities, and an intensive care unit. In 1980, the sisters took over the St. Hedwig Children’s Hospital. By 1988, a pediatrics department, a neonatal unit, an emergency room, a cafeteria, and an underground parking garage were added. St. Josefskrankenhaus even integrated the Marienapotheke, a pharmacy with roots dating back to 1875. In 2000, the Sisters of Charity joined forces with other religious orders to secure the future of their hospitals. They founded the RKK gGmbH, a regional network of Catholic hospitals. This network brought together St. Josefskrankenhaus, Loretto-Krankenhaus, St. Elisabeth-Krankenhaus, and Bruder-Klaus-Krankenhaus. In 2012, St. Elisabeth-Krankenhaus was integrated into St. Josefskrankenhaus. In 2020, St. Josefskrankenhaus transitioned to the Artemed Klinikgruppe and was renamed Artemed Kliniken Freiburg in 2021. Today, St. Josefskrankenhaus continues to expand its medical expertise while upholding its long-standing tradition of compassionate care.