A warm welcome to our practice for pulmonary and sleep medicine in Biel/Bienne

The "Lung & SleepPractice" is a medical practice that specializes in the investigation and the treatment of the whole spectrum of lung disease as well as sleep disorders..

 

Lung diseases include COPD, asthma, lung cancer and cystic fibrosis (CF). Certain rarer forms of disease exist such as interstitial lung disease, which includes sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. Shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain that is accompanied by a sense of choking or a feeling of tightness are all symptoms of some form of lung disease. 

 

 Many forms of sleep disorders, especially problems falling asleep and sleeping through the night result in daytime tiredness and reduced performance. A large number of sleeping disorders, especially the difficulty to fall asleep or the inability to sleep throughout the whole of the night always result in fatigue and reduced efficiency during the day. It is normal for anyone to feel tired from time to time and to feel tired after a night of ineffective sleep. However, when this becomes a habit, it may be wise to investigate what could be at the root of the sleeping disorder, sleep apnea, insomnia or the syndrome of restless legs. Excessive sluggishness or an excessive need of sleep can also be a sign of a sleeping disorder.

 

It is our concern to offer you a careful, competent and friendly assessment and treatment. It is extremely important for us to build an environment of trust in order for a thorough professional assessment to be carried out. Taking your needs into account is also a part of the treatment. It goes without saying that we work in close collaboration with your family doctor and any other medical specialists.

Our offer

The assessment begins with an in-depth discussion followed by a physical examination. Then the necessary tests and measures needed for your case will be taken. These additional tests are harmless and not distressful:

  • Lung function (spirometry, body plethysmography, CO diffusion measurement, airway pressures)
  • 6 - minute walk test
  • Measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
  • Bronchoprovocation test with methacholine
  • Cardiopulmonary exercise test
  • Arterial blood gas analysis
  • Bronchoscopy (incl. peripheral and central EBUS endoscopic bronchial ultrasound)
  • Ultrasound of the chest wall
  • Sleep assessment by means of respiratory polygraphy or, in selected cases, by means of polysomnography in the sleep laboratory Linde in Biel/Bienne.

 

The practice also offers

  • Pre-operative assessment before major surgery
  • oxygen therapy
  • Smoking cessation counselling
  • Outpatient lung rehabilitation in collaboration with the Hirslanden Klinik Linde Biel
  • Pneumological assessments
  • Preparation of pneumological expertise
  • Adaptation of a CPAP device Therapy
  • Non-invasive ventilation at home
  • Inpatient care at the Clinic Hirslanden Klinik  Linde Biel

Team

Dr. med. Magdalen Gürtler

Education and training

1989-1995 Medizinstudium an der Universität Lausanne
1993 1st part of the American licencing medical examination (USMLE/ECFMG)
1995

Federal diploma of Medical School at the University of Lausanne
2nd part of the American licencing medical examination

1996 Doctoral thesis under the supervision of PD Dr. med. Paolo M. Suter and Prof. Dr. W. Vetter: "Effect of alcohol on postprandial lipid metabolism".
1996-1999 Residency of Internal Medicine at Metrowest Medical Center (Framingham Union Hospital) in Framingham, Massachussetts, USA Program director T. L. Treadwell, MD
1998-1999 Chiefresidency
1999 American Board of Internal Medicine
1999-2000 Assistant doctor Anesthesiology at the Cantonal Hospital Lucerne at the Institute for Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Prof. Dr. H. Gerber
2000-2003 Assistant doctor Medical Policlinic of University Hospital of Zurich, Prof. Dr. W. Vetter
2002 FMH title of Specialist in Internal Medicine
2003-2005 Senior physician in internal medicine at the Hospital Centre of Biel, Prof. Dr. A. Gerber
2006-2007 Fellow in pneumology at Tiefenauspital Bern with Dr. C. Mordasini, MD
2007-2009 Fellow in pneumology at Zurich University Hospital with Prof. Dr. E. W. Russi
2009 FMH Pneumology
2009-2013 Senior physician at the Pneumology Department of the University Hospital Inselspital, Prof. Dr. Th. Geiser and Prof. Dr. M. Gugger: general pneumology and sleep medicine with responsibility for the special consultation for cystic fibrosis and for lung transplantation
2013-2016 Practice as an independent pulmonologist and sleep physician at the Bern Salemspital Hirslanden Lung Centre with consultant and affiliated doctor work at the Salemspital, Beausite Clinic and Permanence Clinic.
Nov 2016 Opening of my own practice in Biel and start as an affiliated doctor at the private Clinic Hirslanden Klinik Linde Biel/Bienne
Sept 2018 Sleep Disorders Specialist Certificate from the European Society of Sleep Medicine ESRS

Specialist titles and qualifications

  • American Board of Internal Medicine 1999

  • FMH Internal Medicine 2002

  • FMH Pneumology 2009

  • Sleep Medicine SSSSC 2012

  • European Certificate in Somnology 2018 ESRS
     

  • CAS University of Zurich 2005-2006 "Psychological interviewing and counselling for non-psychologists".

  • CAS University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland 2013 "Management of a medical unit”


Dr. Verena Seif starting

Education and training

2006-2012 Medical studies at Philipps University Marburg
2012 State Examination University of Marburg
2013-2015 Assistant doctor in Internal medicine and rehabilitation, Zürcher Höhenklinik Davos Clavadel, T. Rothe MD, S. Spiess MD
2015-2017 Assistant doctor in Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Prof. M. Brändle
2017-2018 Fellow in Pneumology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Prof. M. Brutsche
2018-220 Fellow in Pneumology, Inselspital Bern, Prof. Th. Geiser
2020-2022 Senior physician, Pneumology, Inselspital Bern, Prof. Th. Geiser and Prof. M. Funke, general pneumology including sleep medicine
01/2023 Joining the practice LungenSchlaf Biel/Bienne

Specialist titles and qualifications

  • FMH Internal Medicine 2020

  • FMH Pneumology 2020

  • Sleep medicine SSSSC in acquisition

  • European certificate in somnology in acquisition


Mitarbeiterinnen

Daniella Afonso — Medical office assistant

Diana Fernandes — Medical office assistant

Liliane Künzi — Medical office assistant

Bettina Läng — Medical office assistant

Charlotte Léchaire — Nurse

Karin Röthlisberger — Medical office assistant

Céline Willome — Medical office assistant

Practice

The practice is wheelchair accessible and has its own four parking spaces. We kindly ask you to use only the parking spaces marked "Praxis" - thank you very much.

 

Consultation hours from 7 January 2023

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday 8 to 12 a.m. and 1 to 8 p.m. (evening consultation)

 

The telephone will be operated on

8 to 11 30 a.m. (Monday to Friday)

1 30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday to Friday except Thursday)
Thursday 8 30 a.m. to 11 30 a.m. and 1 30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m

Contact

Address

LungenSchlafPraxis Biel/Bienne

Schüsspromenade 16/
Promenade de la Suze16

2502 Biel/Bienne

 

032 321 50 50

lungenschlafbiel@hin.ch

Directions

By walking: Cross Bahnhofplatz, follow Bahnhofstrasse to Platz Guisan, then continue along Spitalstrasse to the swan colony (bird aviary). Turn into the driveway at the bird aviary.

 

By bus: Bus number 11 (from the station in the direction of Magglingenbahn-Rebenweg), get off at the stop "Museen" and walk back a few meters.

 

By car:  Be aware the entrance is somewhat hidden!

Via Spitalstrasse entrance between the Swan Colony (bird aviary) and the Music School (Spitalstrasse 11).

 

Please note: the navigation system often points you to the wrong side of the Schüsspromenade when you enter "Schüsspromenade 16". It is easier to enter the address of the Biel Music School as "Spitalstrasse 11" and drive a few meters towards the river Schüss.

 

Four parking spaces are available for patients on the practice premises. We expressly ask you to use only the parking spaces marked "Praxis" - thank you very much.