Recognized by kosek
How do we provide seamless, lifelong care for patients facing the immense complexity of rare developmental disorders?
How do we provide seamless, lifelong care for patients facing the immense complexity of rare developmental disorders?
The medical hub of Zurich has officially been recognised by kosek (National Coordination for Rare Diseases) as a Reference Center for rare developmental disorders (ITHACA Zurich). The reference centre is part of the national SwissITHACA network, and coordinates interdisciplinary expertise to optimise comprehensive support for patients from childhood through adulthood.
Why it matters:
Rare physical, cognitive, or neurological developmental disorders frequently affect multiple organ systems and demand continuous medical, surgical, and psychiatric care. This new reference centre breaks down clinical silos to provide patients and their families with clear treatment plans, shorter referral pathways, and seamless coordination between specialists. Ultimately, it ensures accessible, high-quality, and personalised care throughout a patient's entire life.
Shoutout to the cross-disciplinary team driving this initiative!
Coordinated by the Institute of Medical Genetics at University of Zurich, this effort brilliantly unites the Kinderspital Zürich, Universitätsspital Zürich, Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Center of Dental Medicine at UZH Faculty of Medicine, and Universitätsklinik Balgrist, alongside our dedicated associated partners at Kantonsspital Winterthur and Kantonsspital Graubünden.
Visualizing the Network:
If you want to see how these specialized care pathways are structured to support families, we encourage you to explore the resources on the newly updated portals.
Learn more about the center and the national network here:
ITHACA Zurich: About us
Kosek Specialized Networks & Reference Centers:Netzwerke und Referenzzentren
#RareDiseases #DevelopmentalDisorders #HealthcareInnovation
(Image: Sanja Djordjevic | Unsplash)
Tanja Frey | UZH Medizinische Fakultät