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Cardiology Care Crisis: Patients Left Stranded as Friedrichshafen Practice Collapses
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A year-long wait for critical cardiac care ended abruptly for one German couple, highlighting a growing concern over access to specialist healthcare. Anita and Georg Imgrund of Oberteuringen received an email on December 22nd informing them that their long-scheduled appointment at the MVZ cardiology practice in Friedrichshafen was canceled due to a complete lack of available physicians.
Practice Disappears Amidst Insolvency
The abrupt cancellation left the Imgrunds, and likely many others, scrambling for alternatives. A subsequent examination revealed the cardiology practice on Schwabstrasse had ceased operations as of January 1st. Attempts to contact the practice via phone were unsuccessful, with calls going unanswered. The closure stems from ongoing insolvency proceedings affecting the Medical Care Center (MVZ) associated with the hospital in Friedrichshafen, which began in May 2025.
According to a spokesperson for the Oberschwabenklinik (OSK), which assumed operation of the MVZ in January, cardiologist Alex Simonazzi requested an “amicable termination of his employment relationship” as part of the proceedings. A formal termination agreement was finalized by the end of 2025, leaving the practice without medical staff and forcing the cancellation of all appointments scheduled for 2026.
Limited Communication Fuels Patient Frustration
The Imgrunds expressed deep frustration with the lack of data provided alongside the cancellation notice. “Neither was a timely replacement suggested to us, nor did the email contain any further suggestions,” they stated, emphasizing the dismissive nature of the communication. This lack of support is particularly concerning, as the couple underscored the urgency often associated with cardiology appointments, which frequently involve perhaps life-threatening conditions.
Anita Imgrund recounted a personal experience that underscores the importance of consistent cardiac care. Her husband suffered a stroke in 2017, a life-altering event that reinforced the need for regular, medically recommended check-ups. “Suddenly everything is different,” she recalled, but expressed gratitude that her husband recovered well.
Search for Alternatives and Systemic Challenges
Faced with the sudden loss of their specialist, the Imgrunds proactively sought care elsewhere, eventually securing an appointment with a heart and vascular practice in Ravensburg on April 20th. however,they acknowledged that securing specialist appointments is increasingly arduous,reflecting a broader trend of long waiting times for specialized medical care.
When questioned about providing patients with a list of choice cardiologists in the area, an OSK spokesperson explained that a reliable list of practices currently accepting new patients does not exist. The standard recommendation is to consult with a family doctor, who can than provide referrals. Additionally, the nationwide appointment service point, accessible at 116 117, is available to assist in finding specialists.
OSK Promises Future Cardiology Services
The OSK maintains it is “intensively” working on a solution to reinstate cardiology services in Friedrichshafen. The goal is to establish a new practice in different premises with new medical staff by summer 2026. The OSK claims to have informed patients of the situation through various channels, including notices on the practice door, answering machine messages, website updates, and direct cancellation notices for appointments scheduled in January and February 2026.
However, the Imgrunds received their notification before the OSK took over operations, and were particularly dismayed by the impersonal tone of the initial communication. “you’re simply thrown a rejection in front of you and you don’t know where to turn,”
