Pforzheim: Certification as a unit for the treatment of heart failure
An HFU center is a specialized treatment unit for patients with heart failure. Patients typically suffer from fluid retention and shortness of breath because the heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the organs with oxygen. Heart failure may be caused, for example, by impaired blood circulation due to coronary artery disease, heart muscle disease, cardiac arrhythmias, or defective or narrowed heart valves. At the Helios Hospital Pforzheim, both acute and chronic heart failure patients are treated.
“At our HFU, the focus is on specialized diagnostics and therapy to first determine the cause of heart failure and then initiate the appropriate treatment. In addition to intensive drug therapy, this may include the implantation of pacemakers or defibrillators, heart valve repair using MitraClip or TriClip systems, or reopening blocked vessels. That is why the specialized unit is directly connected to the cardiac catheterization laboratory and the intensive care unit. Our goal is always to provide the best possible care for patients with heart failure so they can benefit from improved well-being. The renewed certification as an HFU center confirms that we are succeeding in this, and we are particularly proud of this as a team,”
explains Ilka Ott, Chief Physician of Cardiology.
Such certification focuses on guideline-based diagnostics and therapy, interdisciplinary cooperation with supraregional HFU centers such as the Heidelberg University Hospital, and collaboration with resident cardiologists to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Among other aspects, treatment processes, structural requirements, staff qualifications, and quality assurance measures are thoroughly evaluated.
“The successful recertification of the HFU once again confirms our high level of expertise, excellent quality of care, and comprehensive treatment options for heart failure. Such certification proves that we meet the strict requirements and quality criteria for treating heart failure patients,” says hospital managing director Emre Nazli.
The hospital in the “Gold City” of Pforzheim is a modern, high-performance acute care hospital with 500 beds, plus a private clinic with 18 beds. As an academic teaching hospital of Heidelberg University, the Helios Hospital Pforzheim comprises 15 departments and two medical institutes and is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology. Around 1,500 employees ensure high-quality, round-the-clock medical care. Each year, more than 24,000 inpatients and around 60,000 outpatients are treated. Approximately 1,600 babies are born annually in the maternity unit.
Fresenius Helios is the leading private healthcare provider in Europe, treating around 27 million patients annually across approximately 140 hospitals and numerous outpatient facilities. Together with Fresenius Kabi, it is part of the Fresenius Group. With around 130,000 employees (including Quirónsalud in Spain and Latin America), Fresenius Helios generated total revenues of more than €13.5 billion in 2025.
In Germany, Helios operates more than 80 hospitals, around 200 medical care centers (MVZ), six prevention centers, and 30 occupational health centers. In 2025, it treated around 5.6 million patients in Germany, more than 4 million of them on an outpatient basis. More than 90% of quality indicators exceed the national average.
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