Rheumatologist Heidelberg
- Dr. Ines Dornacher
- Dr. Verena Schmitt
- Dr. Regina Max
- Dr. Thomas Lutz
- Dr. Melanie Kihm
- Dr. Anika Tuleweit
Private rheumatology practice
Opening hours
| Mon–Fri | 8 am – 5 pm |
Contact
| Phone | 06221 / 9832980 |
| Mobile | 0176 / 72426404 |
| Fax | 06221 / 9832988 |
| Rheumatologie-hd@atos.de | |
| Bismarckstr. 9–15, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany | |
Expertise and experience for your health
As a rheumatology practice in Heidelberg, we place great value on personal, individual care.
Our practice for internal medicine and rheumatology, part of the overall concept of the ATOS Clinic, specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Our services
Your rheumatologists in Heidelberg
Dear patients, dear visitors,
many people associate the word “rheumatism” only with the familiar image of elderly people with stiff joints. In reality, that picture is misleading. The roughly 400 different diseases grouped under the umbrella term “rheumatism” can affect people of any age.
The major groups of inflammatory rheumatic diseases are rheumatoid arthritis (the most common form), the spondyloarthritides, the connective tissue diseases and the vasculitides. As rheumatologists, we diagnose and treat all of these conditions. The symptoms that point to an inflammatory rheumatic disease can be very varied and may affect any part of the body. Joint swelling, tendon irritation and back pain are common complaints, but non-specific symptoms such as fatigue or weight loss can also be a sign of such a disease.
With an early diagnosis and the wide range of treatment options available today, almost all patients can achieve rapid and lasting relief of their symptoms without damage to joints or organs – allowing them to lead a life that is as normal as possible with, or despite, their rheumatic disease.
Personal contact and a relationship of trust between rheumatologist and patient are particularly important to us. We always address your specific complaints and carefully weigh the different treatment options together with you. We make a point of explaining diagnoses and treatment plans in plain language, so that you can better understand and support your individual therapy.
The trust between you and us is decisive for your treatment – which is why personal, trusting and respectful contact is close to our hearts. With professional expertise and warmth, our entire team makes sure you are in good hands and feel at ease with us.
Yours, Dr Ines Dornacher, Dr Verena Schmitt, Dr Regina Max, Dr Thomas Lutz, Dr Melanie Kihm and Dr Anika Tuleweit
– Your rheumatologists in Heidelberg –
Our goal as a rheumatology practice in Heidelberg is to relieve pain, prevent joint damage, preserve function and improve your quality of life. We take our time to do this and value personal, individual contact with every patient.
Frequently asked questions
We are a private practice for rheumatology. Patients with German statutory health insurance and international patients are welcome too: you can be seen as a self-paying patient, and we coordinate further care closely with your general practitioner. Here are the answers to the questions we are asked most often.
Are you a private practice? What does that mean for patients with statutory insurance?
Yes, the Centre for Rheumatology is a private practice. Privately insured patients and civil servants (Beihilfe) are billed as usual; international patients receive an itemised invoice for their insurer. If you have German statutory insurance, you can be seen as a self-paying patient: an initial rheumatological consultation costs between 150 and 200 euros. It is advisable to arrange the work-up together with your general practitioner so that, for example, laboratory tests can be ordered through your health insurance. All details can be found under Statutory insurance.
Do I need a referral?
No. You do not need a referral for an appointment with us. It is helpful if you bring any existing reports and your list of medications. Your general practitioner is welcome to contact us directly in advance.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
We do our best to offer every patient an appointment at short notice, especially in the case of acute illness, joint swelling or elevated inflammatory markers. Call us on 06221 / 9832980 or use the Contact form.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
- Previous reports, doctors’ letters and imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI), if available
- a list of your medications
- your insurance card or details of your private health insurance
Patients with statutory insurance can request a laboratory sheet listing the necessary rheumatological blood tests in advance, which your GP can then take. To do so, send an e-mail to rheumatologie-hd@atos.de with the subject line “Laborwerte Kassenpatient”.
Which diseases do you treat?
The full spectrum of internal medicine rheumatology: Rheumatoid arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, Connective tissue diseases, Vasculitis as well as other inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as gout, sarcoidosis or osteoporosis. An overview of diagnostics and treatment can be found under Services.
Do you also treat children and adolescents?
Yes. Dr. med. Thomas Lutz is a paediatrician certified in paediatric rheumatology and looks after our young patients. Read more under Paediatric rheumatology.
Where is the practice and what are the opening hours?
You will find us at the ATOS Clinic Heidelberg, Bismarckstrasse 9–15, 69115 Heidelberg. We are open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. A map showing the way inside the clinic is on the contact page.
Do patients come to you from further away?
Yes. Many patients come from the whole Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and beyond – from Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Frankfurt or Stuttgart, for example – as well as from abroad. We plan the initial consultation, diagnostics and discussion of results together with you.
What our patients say
Quotes from jameda & Google (translated)
I am completely satisfied and recommend the Centre for Rheumatology without reservation.
Dr Dornacher takes a great deal of time and is extremely competent. I felt well advised at all times and could ask all kinds of questions, which she answered comprehensively.
The whole team is incredibly friendly, committed and empathetic. And you can always reach them by phone.
After a long time I was back in treatment today
with Dr Schmitt. The treatment was very competent and friendly. Dr Schmitt has solutions and really listens to the patient. The practice team deserves an A++. I can recommend this practice without reservation. A solution is found for patients with statutory insurance, too.
Dr Max is an extremely competent, likeable, friendly and helpful doctor!
You feel in very good hands with her, and she also takes a lot of time for your concerns.
I am very happy to have found a doctor like Dr Max.
Podcast #52 (in German): Dr Verena Schmitt – rheumatism explained simply
Our practice
Reception
Waiting room
Treatment room
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