Photo: Lanserhof, Max Koenig

Our five clinics are known for their detoxification programmes, with most clients spending a week in them under medical supervision and with a strict nutritional programme.

Each location also has a variety of the latest medical diagnostic technology. I receive marketing on new technology every day, companies come to pitch to us and staff travel to look at new diagnostics in action. Devices have to fit our concept – they need to be high quality and modern, yet simplistic, reliable and add to our understanding of a person as a whole. We look at everything critically and many times tests are not adequate.

One of our all-encompassing, easy-to-use tests is Global Diagnostics which uses electromagnetic frequencies to measure the body’s energetic structure. This reveals any number of hidden conditions such as toxic overload, lymphatic blockages and active viruses. In the near future, we’ll also be introducing an MRI machine at Lans Tegernsee.

Our Spine Lab and Movement Lab in London are great examples of cutting-edge diagnostics. They use the Centaur which tests for neuromuscular imbalances in the spine and back. They’re staffed with sports scientists who analyse gait and movement to detect irregularities.

While we take advantage of technological advancements, remembering the human element is key. Many patients arrive with chronic issues, liver overload, joint problems and headaches and machinery can only capture so much of that.

That’s where our professional observations and individualised treatments come in. Upon check-in, Lanserhof guests spend one hour in a medical examination with a physician, who uses their training, patient input (learning about needs and expectations) and medical data to develop a treatment plan for the stay.

During a week-long visit, the patient will see the doctor an additional three to four times. Our specialists – osteopaths, physiotherapists, sports scientists, energetics, and dermatological and cosmetological experts – also have meetings to discuss patient progress and share information which directs treatment protocols.

photo: Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

Our alpine setting and natural thermal waters mean we’re perfectly positioned to offer healing modalities in collaboration with Medical Centre Bad Ragaz, one of Europe’s largest healthcare and nutrition facilities, onsite.

Over 20 medical doctors with a wide array of expertise – including the physician for the Swiss National Ski Team – have offices here and schedule in time with hotel guests as well as their own patients.

We certainly see the benefits of having the centre onsite and having medical and spa staff sharing their findings with each other. Guests choosing our Smart Aging programme, for example, will see a dermatologist who performs diagnostics and directs the protocols of the therapy staff, who have access to the relevant medical background of the guest.

Could spa staff offer diagnostics and tests themselves? That heavily depends on the kind of tests and if they’re capable of performing analysis.

The majority of our guests visit for a specific health-related programme with the most popular being our one- to two-week Weight Loss package. Nutritionists oversee meals and advice is given on how to be more active.

Two of the key tests we use are spiroegrometry and functional movement analysis.

Spiroergometry measures a person’s breathing, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and heart rate during ramped-up exercises. This can be used to determine the maximum oxygen uptake and the fat metabolic rate to pinpoint effective training zones for beginners through to athletes.

A questionnaire will determine which functional movement areas to measure to conclude a guest’s strength and flexibility. Based on the results, we’ll create a home programme which targets personal weaknesses and helps them feel more comfortable in their body.

We see diagnostics as the future and plan on investing millions of Euros in this area.

photo: SHA Wellness

With a staff numbering approximately 300 people, including 20 medical professionals, SHA is constantly creating and offering new services and programmes.

Our latest innovation is a Diagnostic Health Screening Lab, which includes a circuit of state-of-the-art equipment that delivers insightful metrics in just 30 minutes so bespoke programmes can begin straight away. Formerly, these separate tests and data analyses would have been carried out over the first few days.

Results obtained from the circuit include measurement of the guest’s heart rate, pulse wave, an overview of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, information on the level of physical and mental stress, glycated proteins in tissue, vital sign collections, a body composition analysis and a 3D body scanner as well as a neurocognitive test.

What’s so different about this is the multidisciplinary approach that enables us to not only diagnose but also spot warning signs and make recommendations. A blood test, for example, gives a lot of information but it is a fixed picture – it may tell us that our cholesterol is fine at the moment, but only an arterial elasticity test will tell us if that’s always been the case.

The biggest challenge we’ve faced is ensuring staff aren’t overwhelmed with data. Our IT team has developed a way to present results that aren’t just a PDF printout. Simple graphs for any aspect of a person’s health show which variables are in or out of range and these help both the doctor and patient understand results in a very visual way.

We also have a dedicated innovation team which assesses the efficacy and suitability of new technologies. It presents findings every month and is currently researching devices which determine the health of skin and hair. We expect this to be a new stage within our diagnostic circuit and it’s just one example of how we’re constantly advancing our offering.