New geriatric trauma center opens in St. Gallen

A fall in old age can have far-reaching consequences: it is often accompanied by a loss of function, reduced independence and, in the worst case, a lasting need for care. Recovery, especially in older patients, depends on numerous factors, such as mobility, muscle strength, bone health, and any pre-existing conditions. In order to meet the specific needs of this patient group, the Geriatrische Klinik . Gallen and the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology now offer in-depth, specialized geriatric care. Both clinics have already been working closely together to provide these patients with optimal care. The opening of a geriatric trauma center will intensify and expand the existing collaboration, with a focus on holistic, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional care for injured geriatric patients.

Geriatric traumatology is a medical specialty that deals specifically with injuries and the prevention of falls and other accidents in old age. It focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration between orthopedics and traumatology—the treatment of accidents and injuries—and geriatrics (medicine for the elderly). This close collaboration allows the specific medical needs of older people to be taken into account and treated in a targeted manner right from the start. Geriatric traumatology is therefore primarily aimed at patients aged 70 and over who require specialized, interdisciplinary care after a fall or accident due to pre-existing conditions or health restrictions. Treatment during the hospital stay is provided by an interprofessional team consisting of specialists, therapists, and nurses from the fields of orthopedics, traumatology, and geriatrics. Joint visits by these disciplines ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

Media release from Health Ostschweiz, January 2026