In addition to the hospital-based doctors, another 9,200 doctors in Berlin work in general and specialist practices which deliver ambulatory care. They have the same qualifications as doctors in hospitals, and indeed will in many cases have worked in hospitals themselves before moving to their practice. To acquire the title “medical specialist”, they will have completed several years of further training and passed the requisite exams.
With its huge number of doctors in medical practices, Berlin offers the widest imaginable range of specialist medical facilities and disciplines. Besides general practitioners, you will also find paediatricians, dentists, orthodontists and dermatologists. Cardiologists, oncologists, radiotherapists and many others are also available.
In many cases, several specialists work together in a shared practice. This is an advantage for patients, as it gives them access to all the necessary medical expertise relating to a particular condition under one roof. They also profit directly from the interdisciplinary exchange between the doctors. For example, a specialist orthopaedic centre will offer conservative or surgical treatment for every conceivable orthopaedic condition – including diagnostic radiology and follow-up physiotherapy.