Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH

What Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH does

Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH is a Catholic hospital and care network headquartered in Datteln, North Rhine-Westphalia, formed on 1 January 1995 through the merger of four Caritas-aligned facilities: St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Datteln (acute care), St.-Laurentius-Stift Waltrop (geriatric and psychiatric care), Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik Datteln (pediatric and adolescent medicine, university clinic of Universität Witten/Herdecke since 1994), and Kinderheilstätte Nordkirchen (disability services for children). It operates ~750 beds, treats approximately 20,000 inpatients per year, manages around 2,500 births annually at its Perinatalzentrum Level 1, and trains 340 nursing students at the Pflegeakademie Datteln, serving a defined catchment area of roughly 120,000 people in the Ostvest region. Ownership rests with the Caritasverband für die Diözese Münster e.V. and the Catholic parishes St. Amandus (Datteln) and St. Peter (Waltrop), and the group is led by Chairman Wolfgang Mueller alongside managing directors Dr. Martin Meyer and Thomas Pliquett.

The organization's service stack spans the full continuum of care: general acute medicine, perinatal/neonatal intensive care, pediatric palliative care (Germany's first Kinderpalliativzentrum, 2010), pediatric pain therapy (Deutsches Kinderschmerzzentrum), pediatric sleep medicine, child protection, psychiatry and psychotraumatology, geriatrics, disability and early-intervention services, outpatient specialty care via MVZ St. Vincenz Datteln, and residential/inpatient elderly care through the Vestische Caritas-Altenhilfe GmbH (Altenheim St. Peter, Barbarahaus, Ludgerushaus, Klarahaus). Recent product launches include the Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum (April 2025), a new Kinder- und Jugendchirurgie department (April 2026), and a ~€7M Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie building (Richtfest December 2025). The group is supported by specialized subsidiaries: VCK-Service GmbH (2004), Vestische Caritas-Altenhilfe GmbH (2006), MVZ St. Vincenz Datteln GmbH (2006), Integrationsküche Nordkirchen GmbH (2006), and PedScience – Vestische Forschungs-GmbH (2017).

Revenue is generated primarily through statutory (GKV) and private (PKV) health insurance reimbursement under the German DRG system for inpatient and outpatient acute care, supplemented by long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) for elderly and disability services, training subsidies for nursing education, and research grants via PedScience. Pricing is regulated and not commercially negotiable; the company is positioned as a regional, mission-driven Catholic provider with academic affiliations (Ruhr-Universität Bochum since 2022, Universität Witten/Herdecke since 1994) and certified specialty centers (OnkoZert-certified cancer centers, DGAV/DHG-certified hernia center, perinatal Level 1, chest pain unit). Operations span multiple towns — Datteln (HQ, acute hospital, children's clinic, MVZ, elderly homes, academy), Waltrop (geriatric/psychiatric hospital, elderly home), and Nordkirchen/Selm/Ahlen/Dortmund/Dülmen (disability and elderly facilities).

Name

Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH

Legal name

Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH

Website

https://vck-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH is a Catholic hospital and care network in Datteln, Germany, operating ~750 beds across acute, pediatric, geriatric, psychiatric, disability, and elderly care facilities serving ~120,000 people in the Ostvest region under the Caritasverband für die Diözese Münster.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospital Healthcare Services

NAICS

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (6221), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Long-Term Care Nursing Homes (Custodial LTC) (HLADADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nursing Homes (Non-SNF) (HLAFAFAC)

Keywords

• Hospital healthcare services
• Pediatric specialty care
• Geriatric psychiatric care
• Disability care services
• Nursing education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Datteln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hospital and Clinical Patient Care Services: The primary revenue stream consists of reimbursement for inpatient and outpatient medical services billed to statutory health insurance (GKV) and private health insurance (PKV) under the German Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) system and hospital fee schedules. Revenue is generated from treating patients across acute care (St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus), pediatric care (Kinder- und Jugendklinik), geriatric and psychiatric care (St.-Laurentius-Stift), and disability care (Kinderheilstätte). Revenue is recurring based on patient volume and case complexity.
2. Medical Advisory and Training Services: Revenue from teaching hospital status (Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus), nursing academy programs (Pflegeakademie Datteln), and continuing education programs. Training fees are charged for nursing education programs (340 trainees), FSJ/BFD placements, and professional development courses.
3. Elderly Care and Assisted Living Services: Through Vestische Caritas-Altenhilfe GmbH, revenue is generated from residential care homes (Altenheim St. Peter, Barbarahaus, Ludgerushaus, Klarahaus) and assisted living facilities, billed through long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) and private payments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH operates a regional Catholic hospital and care network in Germany's Ostvest region, delivering acute inpatient and outpatient hospital care, specialized pediatric medicine, geriatric and psychiatric care, disability services for children and youth, residential elderly care, and nursing vocational training. Services are delivered through four main facilities (St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Datteln, Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik Datteln, St.-Laurentius-Stift Waltrop, Kinderheilstätte Nordkirchen) plus an outpatient medical center (MVZ), an elderly care subsidiary, and a nursing academy training approximately 340 students annually.

Product overview

Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH operates as a hospital network comprising four main facilities: St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Datteln (general hospital with approximately 750 beds), Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik Datteln (one of Germany's largest pediatric hospitals and university clinic), St.-Laurentius-Stift Waltrop (geriatric and psychiatric specialty hospital), and Kinderheilstätte Nordkirchen (facility for children with disabilities). Supporting services include Pflegeakademie Datteln (nursing academy), MVZ St. Vincenz Datteln (outpatient center), and Vestische Caritas-Altenhilfe (elderly care services). The network operates multiple specialized centers including Germany's first pediatric palliative care center, perinatal center Level 1, pain center for children, certified cancer centers (breast, colorectal, prostate), hernia center, endoprothetik center, and child protection facility. The organization provides care from birth through end of life, with approximately 3,000 employees serving an estimated catchment area of 120,000 people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus: General and acute care hospital in Datteln serving the Ostvest region.
• Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik Datteln
• St.-Laurentius-Stift
• Kinderheilstätte
• Vestische Caritas-Altenhilfe
• MVZ St. Vincenz Datteln
• Kinderpalliativzentrum Datteln
• Deutsches Kinderschmerzzentrum
• Pflegeakademie Datteln
• LichtHafen

Products and services

• St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Datteln General and specialized acute care hospital in Datteln serving the Ostvest region with approximately 750 beds, providing care from birth to end of life including emergency medicine, surgery, cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, obstetrics/maternity, geriatrics, and a Chest Pain Unit. The hospital is an Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum since 2022.
• Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik Datteln One of Germany's largest children's and youth hospitals, a university clinic of the Universität Witten/Herdecke, providing highly specialized pediatric and adolescent medicine including neonatology, pediatric intensive care, pediatric pain therapy, pediatric palliative care, child protection, pediatric surgery, child and adolescent psychiatry, and adolescent medicine.
• St.-Laurentius-Stift Waltrop Geriatric and psychiatric specialty hospital in Waltrop with capacity for up to 172 patients, offering inpatient, day-clinic, and outpatient services for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, dementia care, rehabilitation, palliative care, and psychiatric care (including compulsory admissions).
• Kinderheilstätte Nordkirchen Comprehensive facility in Nordkirchen for children and adolescents with physical, intellectual, and multiple disabilities and their families, providing residential homes, short-term/respite care, early intervention (Frühförderung), special education at the Maximilian-Kolbe-Schule, therapeutic interventions, and family support across multiple NRW locations.
• Vestische Caritas-Altenhilfe (VCA) Subsidiary providing senior living and long-term care services in Datteln and Waltrop, operating residential care homes including Altenheim St. Peter, Barbarahaus, Ludgerushaus, and Klarahaus, billed through long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) and private payments.
• Pflegeakademie Datteln Nursing academy providing 3-year and 1-year vocational training programs for approximately 340 trainees annually, serving as both an internal talent pipeline for the VCK group and an external educational institution for healthcare careers.
• MVZ St. Vincenz Datteln (Medical Care Center) Multi-specialty outpatient medical center offering surgery, cardiology, radiology, pediatric surgery, and oncology services across five practices, providing ambulatory specialist care to the Ostvest region.
• Kinderpalliativzentrum Datteln Germany's first pediatric palliative care center, providing medical, nursing, and psychosocial care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families, and operating the on-site LichtHafen surgical unit for children with rare diseases.
• Deutsches Kinderschmerzzentrum Pediatric pain therapy center treating chronically pain-ill children and adolescents, receiving approximately 1,200 patients annually in the pain outpatient clinic and operating Germany-wide referrals.
• Perinatalzentrum Datteln Level 1 Highest-level (Level 1) perinatal center for mother and child care, handling approximately 2,500 births per year including ~85 very small premature infants under 1,500g, regularly ranked among Germany's top 10 centers for outcome quality.
• Brustzentrum (Breast Cancer Center) Certified breast cancer center providing comprehensive oncology care, diagnosis, and treatment for breast cancer patients.
• Darmkrebszentrum (Colorectal Cancer Center) OnkoZert-certified colorectal cancer center providing multidisciplinary diagnosis, surgery, and treatment of colorectal cancer since 2009.
• Prostatakarzinomzentrum (Prostate Cancer Center) Specialized prostate cancer center providing multidisciplinary oncology care, diagnosis, and treatment for prostate cancer patients.
• Hernienzentrum (Hernia Center) DGAV/DHG-certified hernia surgery center providing specialized surgical treatment of abdominal wall and groin hernias.
• Endoprothetikzentrum (Joint Replacement Center) Specialized orthopedic center for joint replacement (endoprosthetic) surgeries, including hip and knee replacement procedures.
• Beckenbodenzentrum (Pelvic Floor Center) Specialized pelvic floor center providing multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of urological and gynecological pelvic floor conditions.
• Chest Pain Unit Specialized emergency unit for rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients presenting with acute chest pain (e.g., suspected acute coronary syndrome).
• Diabeteszentrum Specialized diabetes care center for the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of diabetes mellitus.
• Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum (SPZ) Datteln Outpatient socialpediatric center providing integrated neuropediatric care from a single multidisciplinary team of experts for children with complex developmental and neurological conditions.
• Kinderschutzhaus (Child Protection House) Child protection facility providing medical diagnosis, documentation, and protective measures for children with suspected physical, psychological, and sexual abuse.
• Institut für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie Specialized speech and hearing institute for the diagnosis and treatment of hearing-impaired and speech-impaired children, established in 1991.
• Frühförderstelle Early intervention service for children with special needs and their families, with locations in Lüdinghausen and Dülmen, providing therapeutic and developmental support.
• Maximilian-Kolbe-Schule Special education school at the Kinderheilstätte with focus on intellectual development and physical/motor development for children and youth with disabilities.
• LichtHafen Operating theater on the roof of the Kinderpalliativzentrum providing on-site surgical care for children and adolescents with rare diseases, eliminating the need for transfers to other facilities.
• Hinweisgebersystem (Whistleblower System) Confidential internal reporting system compliant with the German Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG), available to employees and external parties including suppliers, allowing anonymous reporting of legal violations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Perinatalzentrum Datteln regularly ranks among the top 10 best perinatal centers in Germany for outcome quality, managing ~2,500 births/year including ~85 very low birth weight infants under 1,500g.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universität Witten/HerdeckecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik Datteln has been a clinic of the Universität Witten/Herdecke since January 1994. The clinic hosts the Chair for Pediatric Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Medicine (Prof. Boris Zernikow). Research is conducted through PedScience – Vestische Forschungs-GmbH.
• Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Datteln is an Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus (Academic Teaching Hospital) of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum since 2022, providing medical education and training for medical students and junior doctors.
• PedScience – Vestische Forschungs-GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch company conducting targeted research projects in pediatrics, founded in 2017 under the umbrella of the VCK group. Supports nationally funded research projects.
• Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft (German Cancer Society) / OnkoZertcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe surgery department of St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus has been certified by the German Cancer Society (OnkoZert) as a Darmkrebszentrum (colorectal cancer center) since 2009. Also certified as a Kompetenzzentrum für Hernienchirurgie by DGAV/DHG since 2015.
• Katholisches Datenschutzzentrum – Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (KDSZ)minorOthersThe Catholic Data Protection Center serving as the supervisory authority for data protection compliance under the Kirchliches Datenschutzgesetz (KDG). Responsible for handling complaints and conducting data protection audits.
• Integrationsküche Nordkirchen GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture where people with and without disabilities prepare meals together to supply the Kinderheilstätte, the children's clinic, and social institutions in the region.
• St. Marien-Hospital Lüdinghausen GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCK holds a participation/stake in St. Marien-Hospital Lüdinghausen GmbH, expanding its regional healthcare network.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sana Kliniken AG: One of Germany's largest private hospital operators (~50 facilities); comparable hospital service model and DRG reimbursement exposure, but operates at substantially larger scale and includes both private and public-sector facilities.
• Schoen Klinik SE: Privately held German hospital group (~17 hospitals) specializing in orthopedics, psychosomatics, and acute care; comparable specialty-acute mix but operates at larger scale and with different specialty emphasis.
• Helios Kliniken GmbH: Germany's largest hospital operator (~90 hospitals, part of Fresenius); comparable inpatient/DRG business model but vastly larger scale and privately held by a corporate parent with different ownership dynamics than VCK's Catholic structure.
• Asklepios Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA: Major German hospital chain with ~170 facilities; comparable acute hospital service model and DRG exposure but operates at national scale across both clinical and psychiatric services.

Regional players

• Universitätsklinikum Münster: Academic hospital in Münster (same NRW region as VCK); comparable in NRW location and multi-specialty offering, but operates as a public academic tertiary center with a much larger scale and broader research mandate.
• Malteser Kliniken Rhein-Ruhr: Catholic-affiliated hospital operator in the Rhein-Ruhr region (NRW); comparable faith-based ownership and regional German acute care model, though focused on different specific facilities.

Direct peers

• Marienhaus Kliniken GmbH: Catholic hospital group operating ~18 facilities across western Germany; comparable as a faith-based multi-site operator with similar mix of acute, geriatric, and elder care services in similar catchment sizes.
• Agaplesion gAG: Christian non-profit hospital group operating ~30 facilities across Germany; directly comparable to VCK as a faith-affiliated operator with mixed acute, geriatric, and elder care services in similar regional catchments.
• St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster: Catholic hospital foundation based in Münster operating 14 hospitals across NRW; directly comparable to VCK as a faith-based, regional Catholic hospital network with multi-site operations, academic affiliations, and elder care services.
• Katholisches Klinikum Bochum: Catholic hospital network in Bochum (Ruhr-Universität Bochum teaching hospital); comparable in faith-based ownership, multi-specialty offering, and NRW regional footprint overlapping with VCK's catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StVincenzKrankenhausDatteln
• Instagraminstagram.com/kinderheilstaette

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vestische Caritas-Kliniken GmbH