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Beware of the biologicals—hospitals may die: the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland (1951–2010)

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Abstract

The first patient entered the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland in July 1951. From that point on, the hospital helped patients suffering from rheumatic disorders. Specialists in the hospital actively developed treatments and published a large number of scientific articles in international journals. The hospital was well known internationally among people working in the field. Progress in the development of disease-modifying medication (biological agents in particular) has dramatically improved the life of patients with rheumatic diseases, but all effective treatments may also have adverse effects. In this article, we briefly review the history of the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, which was closed permanently in March 2010 due to bankruptcy. The economical difficulties were caused primarily by the progress made in disease-modifying therapy, which decreased the need of rehabilitation and operative treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases. It seems that a great success in biological agents can carry “serious adverse effects”, which may kill hospitals. This is an important primary observation, which should be noticed when the future of specialised institutes is planned.

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Disclosures

Markku J Kauppi, Hanna Säilä, and Markku Hakala have participated and given lectures in scientific meetings sponsored by pharmaceutical companies (Abbott, BMS, MSD, Pfizer, Roche and UCB). Eero A Belt has no conflict to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Keskussairaalankatu 7, 15850, Lahti, Finland

    Markku J. Kauppi & Markku Hakala

  2. Medical School, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

    Markku J. Kauppi & Markku Hakala

  3. Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Orton Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Hanna Säilä

  4. Department of Rheumaorthopaedics and Department of Orthopaedics, Orton Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Eero A. Belt

Authors
  1. Markku J. Kauppi
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  2. Hanna Säilä
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  3. Eero A. Belt
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  4. Markku Hakala
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Markku J. Kauppi.

Additional information

The last clinic leaders in the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital:

Markku J Kauppi, MD, PhD, Rheumatology

Hanna Säilä, MD, PhD, Paediatric Rheumatology

Eero A Belt, MD, PhD, Professor, Rheumaorthopaedics

Markku Hakala, MD, PhD, Professor, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

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Kauppi, M.J., Säilä, H., Belt, E.A. et al. Beware of the biologicals—hospitals may die: the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland (1951–2010). Clin Rheumatol 31, 1151–1154 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-2001-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-2001-9

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