New innovative healthcare model

This programme has created a new fast-track HIV and STI screening service that uses state-of-the-art ICT and molecular biology technologies. It also provides easy access for asymptomatic and vulnerable users, which helps improve the efficiency of the system and reduce saturation in public health care centres.

This innovative project in the treatment and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a continuation of the pilot project launched in 2016.  It is included as one of the strategic lines of the 2016-2020 Health Plan of the Regional Government of Catalonia and is subsidised by the European FEDER funds.

How does the rapid circuit work?

Users have direct access to the circuit, without needing to visit their GP first.

If you want to read more information about the rapid circuit, you may visit the Drassanes Express Department page.

We set out to meet the needs of the patient immediately with energy efficient buildings and an environment that facilitates recovery. This is known as a “healing environment”.

Factors such as good air conditioning and insulation of facilities, green spaces, adequate signage or the use of natural light are key to the design of a hospital. That is why Vall d'Hebron University Hospital has launched initiatives such as the new Neurology Department, with spaces painted in pastel and relaxing colours, lights that are regulated according to patients’ visual needs and computer-controlled air conditioning.

The Intensive Care Medicine Department is committed to the humanisation of the Intensive Care Unit of the General Hospital, with the installation of smart TVs and provision of smart watches. It has been proven that these items make the patients feel more comfortable and facilitate their treatment.

Other examples of humanisation at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital are: the decoration of the Children’s Hospital and the Women’s Hospital; the use of organic food waste from the hospital kitchen for biomass; and the installation of thermal solar panels that will later be replaced by photovoltaic panels.

In the digital field, we also have the Vall d’Hebron Channel. The channel is free and accessible to everyone who has been admitted to the hospital. Inpatients are able to watch health promotion and prevention videos, conceived to help them adopt healthy habits.

Moreover, to reduce immobility levels, physical exercises are displayed on the screens which encourage patients to stay mobile. Finally, to prevent insomnia, inpatients can also view relaxation exercises on the screens.

We are constantly striving to improve coexistence on the Campus, putting the patient at the centre. We are working to reduce noise, reduce atmospheric emissions, reduce waste and reduce energy consumption.

In short, humanising hospital care means adapting to the needs of patients through buildings that welcome them and respond to their requests.

At Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, innovation is essential in ensuring that our services and patient care are of the highest quality and at the forefront of current medical trends. Our strength in healthcare, research and teaching means we constantly incorporate new knowledge, generating value not just for patients but for professionals and the wider organisation. This strategic emphasis drives us to overcome new challenges in social and health care, improving sustainability and efficiency in the health system.

This strategy has led to the following concrete results: the creation of 18 spin-offs and start-ups; the transfer of 74 patents; the implementation of 12 projects thanks to the 'Jo innovo' competition; and the participation of over 400 patients and professionals in co-creation processes. The figures demonstrate our commitment to applied innovation and its capacity to generate a real impact.

To drive the culture of innovation in the Campus, we promote initiatives such as the 'Jo innovo' Competition: a space where our professionals can present and develop innovative ideas that transform clinical practice and hospital organisation. The winners receive specialised training and the opportunity to discover innovative ecosystems in other European hospitals, through the European University Hospitals Alliance (EUHA).

To learn more about our innovation projects and initiatives, visit this section.

Vall d’Hebron is hosting the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA), made up of Europe's largest university hospitals working collaboratively to improve present and future patient outcomes.

The European University Hospital Alliance was founded in 2017, with a view to sharing experience in the areas of health, research and education. Each of the members is a leading university hospital in its country, with a capacity of more than 1,000 beds. They are national reference centres and, together, supply 100% of the existing European Reference Networks (ERNs). Moreover, all members of the Alliance have centres of excellence in research and are affiliated to a university.

The overall objective of its members is to play an active role in shaping the future of healthcare in the European Union, sharing the best practices in order to benefit patients and maximising efforts to promote high quality research.

The objectives of the European University Hospital Alliance are:

• To improve patient outcomes.
• To improve the opportunities and experiences of members of the Alliance in all areas.
• To strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, such as political leaders, the European Commission, pharmaceutical and medical technology companies and funding agencies.

The ten members of the European University Hospital Alliance are:

• Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien - Vienna, Austria
• Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris - Paris, France
• Charité - Berlin, Germany
• Erasmus Universität Medisch Centrum - Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - Barcelona, ​​Spain
• Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset - Stockholm, Sweden
• King's Health Partners - London, United Kingdom
• Ospedale San Raffaele - Milan, Italy
• UZ Leuven - Leuven, Belgium
• Aarhus University Hospital - Aarhus, Denmark

Among all healthcare actors, university hospitals play an important role and are one of the main drivers and catalysts of innovation.

The Alliance sets out to improve communication between university hospitals; share good practices in the areas of patient care, innovation and other fields; and discuss issues in order to strengthen European healthcare systems. The Alliance also seeks to extend opportunities so that researchers, clinical professionals and other employees have the chance to acquire experience in other European university hospitals and develop professional networks.

Visit the Alliance website for more information: http://www.euhalliance.eu/

As a leading hospital complex, we maintain a commitment to patients based on transparency, active risk management and a rapid response should an incident arise. 

In this context, the Safety Commission is working towards a Safety Model centred around patients and professionals, guaranteeing that it will:

• Propose and prioritise strategies in the area of safety of patients and professionals
• Promote improvement actions related to the safety of patients and professionals
• Be responsible for monitoring indicators of the safety of patients and professionals and evaluating the results

The patient is just as important as the professional caring for them. For this reason, we join forces in risk management throughout the whole healthcare process to maximise benefits and minimise injury. With this intention, we supervise and adapt care teams to detect risks during handovers (shift changes, duty changes). We bring together care teams to share patient information and encourage notices as a method of risk and incident communication.

Besides this, in order to learn from our mistakes, we monitor the results of safety issues through a series of indicators (both for patients and professionals) and apply proposed improvements according to the results. Treating professionals fairly implies, among other things, providing training on an ongoing basis. We therefore have a training programme to provide an adequate response individually and collectively.

Finally, looking to the future, we are preparing ourselves for the implementation of telematic notification of complaints and incidents detected by patients. Their opinion is essential to improve the organisational structure and the scope of the measures in our security model.