Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital

Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital - Overview

Florence Nightingale Hospital, established in 1989, started with 50 beds and an annual capacity for 250 open heart procedures. Over the years, it has grown into one of Europe and the Middle East's largest and most renowned hospital groups, comprising four general hospitals, each hosting "Centers of Excellence" in specialized medical fields.

The Group's commitment to innovation is evident in its pioneering milestones: the first Stent Operation in 1991, followed by the region's inaugural Robotic Surgery in 2004 and Liver Transplantation in the same year, marking a significant advancement in private healthcare. In 2005, it established the first Stroke Center, further solidifying its position as a leader in comprehensive medical care.

In collaboration with American partners, the Gayrettepe Florence Nightingale Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center were established in 1997, reflecting the Group's global outreach and expertise. In 1998, the establishment of Istanbul Bilim University, Turkey's premier themed health university under Florence Nightingale's auspices, exemplifies its commitment to education and advancement in healthcare.

Avrupa Florence Nightingale Hospital, the Group's second facility, continues to set standards in various medical specialties, bolstering its reputation for excellence and leadership in the healthcare sector.

Today, Group Florence Nightingale treats over 300,000 patients annually across its facilities, which collectively house 804 beds, 40 operating rooms, 141 ICU beds, and 50 emergency beds.

With a remarkable track record that includes 41,000 Heart Surgeries, 105,000 Angiographies & Angioplasties, 20,000 Orthopedic Surgeries, more than 1,100 Bone Marrow Transplants, nearly 1,500 Liver Transplants, more than 1,000 Kidney Transplants, and over 1,500 Robotic Surgeries, Group Florence Nightingale remains dedicated to providing world-class healthcare services rooted in decades of experience and continuous innovation.

Why Choose Florence Nightingale?

·      Comprehensive healthcare services

·      Centers of excellence

·      Professional management structure

·      Patient satisfaction (92%)

·      Human resources recruitment from internal sources

·    International perspective (Includes management of educational and training resources of healthcare facilities for local investors, infrastructure consultancy, and international partnerships)

·      Providing the best possible treatment to our patients (Accredited with a score of 99.6 by JCI)

·      Leading the Turkish healthcare system

·      Being a respected institution in Europe and worldwide

Decades of Excellence and Expertise

Established in 1989, Group Florence Nightingale has been a leader in the healthcare sector, creating "Centers of Excellence" across five hospitals and three medical centers. We specialize in advanced treatment, surgery, and diagnostics, serving patients not only from Turkey but also from around the world.

Proven Track Record

Annually, we care for 70,000 inpatients and 250,000 outpatients, with a capacity of 804 patient beds, 141 ICU beds, and 40 operating rooms. Our multidisciplinary approach has earned us a reputation for excellence, performing over 20,000 operations per year, including 1,000 pediatric and 2,000 adult cardiac surgeries. To date, we have completed 41,000 cardiac surgeries, 105,000 angiographies and angioplasties, 20,000 orthopedic surgeries, 3,217 spine surgeries, more than 8,000 oncology cases, nearly 1,500 liver transplants, over 1,000 kidney transplants, 900 bone marrow transplants, and over 1,500 robotic surgeries.

Highly Qualified Medical Professionals

Our physicians are licensed by the Turkish Medical Council, with many holding Board Certifications from the US, Australia, or Europe.

Our nurses, pharmacists, imaging, and lab technicians are highly trained and certified, with ICU nurses receiving specialized training and certification.

Advanced Technology and Facilities

We continuously invest in state-of-the-art medical technology and equipment. Our university and training hospital, in collaboration with our Clinical Research Center and Centers of Excellence, ensures we stay at the forefront of medical advancements. We also boast the region's first "Smart-and-Green Hospital," featuring robotic surgery and telemedicine.

Group Florence Nightingale provides the highest quality care for international patients, ensuring a smooth and professional healthcare experience from start to finish.

Our Vision and Mission

To be a leading institution in our fields of expertise with the scientific value and quality of the services we offer, to contribute to the development of medical science and to continue these studies in an academic environment.

To be an innovative, continuously developing and pioneering institution to provide reliable, up-to-date and patient-oriented healthcare services, to continuously train employees, to prioritise patient and employee welfare and to respect the environment and patient rights.

Centers of Excellence

The Florence Nightingale Group has been recognised as a "Center of Excellence" with its laboratories, radiology and nuclear medicine centers, intensive care units and high-level "gold standard" technology offering expertise at universal standards in all fields of medicine. can work in the following specialisation centers:

·      Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery Center

·      Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Istanbul Spine Center

·      Comprehensive Oncology Center

·      Comprehensive Transplantation Center

·      Robotic Surgery Center

·      IVF and Genetics Center

·      Obesity Surgery Center

·      Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center

·      Interventional Radiology

·      Nuclear Oncology (TheraSphere)

Robotic Surgery in Cardiac Operations

Traditional heart surgeries involve a large chest incision (median sternotomy) and the use of a heart-lung machine. While effective, these methods come with drawbacks, such as longer recovery times and greater physical impact on patients. Minimally invasive techniques aim to reduce these impacts by avoiding large incisions and reliance on heart-lung machines.

Endoscopic techniques, although widely used in other surgeries, have limited application in cardiac procedures due to the heart's constant movement and the limitations of two-dimensional imaging. Despite these challenges, our clinic has successfully performed over 600 endoscopic mitral valve repairs, ASD closures, and myxoma resections. This experience has paved the way for our proficiency in robotic surgery. In Turkey, over 300 cardiac patients have undergone successful robotic surgeries since the first system was installed in 2004.

The key advantages of robotic surgery include:

            •        Reduced blood loss

            •        Shorter hospital stays

            •        Less pain

            •        Lower infection rates

            •        Improved cosmetic outcomes

            •        Faster return to work

Robotic surgery is used in various cardiac procedures, including:

            •        Mitral valve repair and replacement

            •        Coronary bypass for single or two-vessel disease

            •        ASD closure

            •        Arrhythmia operations

            •        Cardiac tumor removal

At Group Florence Nightingale Hospitals, we have successfully implemented all forms of robotic cardiac surgeries with the principle of patient safety in mind, having completed rigorous training in OPCAB surgery, peripheral cannulation techniques, and endoscopic systems, while knowing when to switch to open surgery remains crucial.

Robotic Surgery in General Surgical Operations

Robotic surgical systems, first introduced in 1996 and approved for intra-abdominal surgery in 2000 with the Da Vinci Surgical System, provide several key advantages. These include three-dimensional imaging, precise movement through mechanical wrists, and minimized vibration, making robotic surgery the next evolutionary step after laparoscopy.

Robotic surgery offers numerous benefits, such as:

·      Less Pain: Reduced postoperative pain due to a less traumatic approach.

·      Lower Infection Risk: Minimal contact between internal organs and air reduces infection risks.

·    Enhanced Safety: Three-dimensional, magnified views improve visibility of blood vessels and nerves, reducing blood loss.

·      Minimal Scarring: Small incisions (1-1.5 cm) result in less noticeable scars compared to larger open surgery incisions.

·      Faster Recovery: Quicker postoperative mobilization and oral intake lead to faster recovery.

·     Shorter Hospital Stay: Most patients are discharged within 3 to 4 days, returning to work and daily activities sooner.

Robotic Radical Prostatectomy

The prostate gland, located below the bladder, plays a role in liquefying seminal fluid. Prostate cancer starts from abnormal cell growth in this gland and can spread if not caught early.

Prostate cancer is common in older men, with about 50% of men over 70 showing microscopic signs. The risk of developing prostate cancer is around 17%. Early detection through PSA testing has lowered the death rate significantly.

Age and family history are major risk factors. Regular screenings are advised for men over 50, or over 40 with a family history. About 10% of cases are inherited.

Radical prostatectomy, the removal of the prostate gland, is a key treatment for prostate cancer. Robotic surgery offers a minimally invasive option with several advantages:

·      Less Blood Loss: Gas inflation and high-definition 3D cameras reduce bleeding.

·      Shorter Hospital Stay: Smaller incisions lead to quicker recovery and discharge.

·      Less Pain: Minimally invasive surgery results in less postoperative pain.

·      Better Cancer Control: Enhanced imaging improves surgical precision.

·      Improved Urinary Control: Faster recovery of urinary functions.

·      Quicker Return to Sexual Activity: Better preservation of nerves and vessels.

Comprehensive Organ Transplant Center

The Comprehensive Organ Transplant Center has so far performed 1500 liver transplants, 1400 kidney transplants and 1000 bone marrow transplants. These achievements demonstrate the center's strong performance in the field of organ transplantation and its significant contribution to patients.

Group Florence Nightingale Organ Transplantation Center is the largest in Europe for liver, kidney, and pancreas transplants from living donors. Here are the key points for international patients:

·      Leading Expertise: The center performs the highest number of liver (nearly 1500) and kidney (over 100) transplants in Europe and the Middle East, handling the most complex cases and saving hundreds of lives annually.

·   Advanced Training: Surgeons at the center have trained many colleagues globally, including in Turkey, the UK, Romania, Jordan, and India.

·      Comprehensive Services: The center offers multiple organ transplants in a single session and boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a dedicated multidisciplinary team.

·     Eligibility: Candidates for transplantation must have end-stage organ failure, be in suitable health for major surgery, and have willing and suitable donors.

·   Donor Requirements: Donors can be relatives up to the 4th degree or non-relatives with ethical approval. Cadaveric donations are not available for international patients, and heart transplants are not permitted for foreign patients in Turkey.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Istanbul Spine Center

Istanbul Spine Center of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, which is one of the best centers in the world in spinal disorders with the EOS device, achieves the best results by performing successful treatments every day. Approximately 1,200 operations are performed each year at the Orthopaedics & Traumatology Istanbul Spine Center. To date, 27,000 orthopaedic and 5,700 spine surgeries, especially scoliosis, have been successful.

Comprehensive Oncology Center

The Group has an advanced oncology center and uses modern technologies: TrueBeam, Halcyon, Rapid Arc, IMRT, PET-CT, PET-MR and second-generation sequencing devices. These devices are developed by our specialised doctors. To date, 8,000 cancer cases, 50,000 chemotherapy sessions and 160,000 radiotherapy sessions have been performed.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Center Da Vinci Robotic Surgery

The Da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System combines groundbreaking robotic technology with three-dimensional, high-resolution imaging. Introduced for the first time in Turkey at Florence Nightingale in 2004, this surgical system enables procedures for heart, lung, prostate, and kidney surgeries without the need for traditional open-chest or open-abdomen approaches. To date, over 1000 robotic surgical operations have been performed.

Group Florence Nightingale Puts Quality of Care First

At Group Florence Nightingale, patient care and safety are paramount. With 30 years of experience, Group Florence Nightingale continues to pioneer innovations in many fields and disciplines. We proudly hold accreditation certificates from the German TÜV, British QHA and American Joint Commission International Group Florence Nightingale.

International Patient Services Center

The GFN Center for International Patients (CIP) at Florence Nightingale Hospitals operates on the "Commitment to Excellence" principle, serving patients worldwide with high-quality professional services. The CIP team provides 24/7 direct assistance in a culturally sensitive manner, including:

·      Scheduling appointments

·      Hospital admissions

·      Travel and accommodation arrangements

·      Interpreter services

·      Air and land ambulance services

·      Financial transactions

·      Discharge process and follow-up care

Multilingual specialists ensure personalized medical and concierge services tailored to the needs of each patient and family. They respond promptly to patient inquiries within 24 hours after reviewing medical reports with relevant physicians.