The Alliance of Spanish Private Healthcare (ASPE) has celebrated the first edition of its awards, in which it has distinguished eight projects "that represent the excellence of Spanish Private Healthcare," focused on areas such as patient experience, artificial intelligence (AI), clinical research, sustainability, and public-private collaboration.
In the category "Enhancing the patient experience," the Sant Josep Clinic of Manresa and the Althaia Foundation have been awarded for the project "Co-design of a new hospitalization ward based on the voice of the patient." In the area "Excellence in innovation in healthcare technology," the recognition has gone to the HLA La Vega Hospital and "C-CRYOEBUS," thanks to the initiative "Ariza-Pallarés Method: Spanish technological innovation that transforms the diagnosis of lung cancer and mediastinal diseases worldwide."
Within the section "Innovation in preventive care," the award has gone to "Vital Pulse," from Recoletas Salud. In the category "Excellence in professional development," the project "When knowledge travels, cancer treatment also advances," from GenesisCare Spain, has been highlighted. In "Excellence in public-private collaborations and alliances," "Digitalization of the exchange of reports and diagnostic images between San Roque University Hospitals and the Canary Health Service," driven by San Roque University Hospitals, has been recognized.
Additionally, the San Juan de Dios Zaragoza Hospital has been distinguished as "Best integration of AI in the healthcare field" for "CuidaTIC: Artificial Intelligence and Smart Room integrated at the point of care of San Juan de Dios Zaragoza Hospital." The Puigvert Foundation has been recognized in the category "Sustainable practices and environmentally responsible in hospitals" for the project "Towards sustainable dialysis: caring for health and the planet." For its part, the La Paloma Polyclinic has been awarded in "Boosting clinical research in Private Healthcare" for "La Paloma Hospital: three decades of clinical research with international impact on the treatment of diabetic foot."
More than 400 representatives from the healthcare and business sectors have attended the event. Among them are the health counselors of the Governments of Madrid, Fátima Matute, and of the Canary Islands, Esther María Monzón; the spokesperson for Health of the Popular Party (PP) in the Congress of Deputies, Elvira Velasco; as well as the president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), Antonio Garamendi.
Culture of collaboration in Private Healthcare
"Healthcare excellence does not belong to a profession, an institution, or a model," stated the president of ASPE, José Manuel Baltar, emphasizing that the goal of these awards is "to recognize good practices, share experiences that are demonstrating results, and promote a culture of collaboration among the different actors that are part of the healthcare system."
Baltar highlighted, regarding the 75 applications received in this first call, that "the high participation recorded in this first edition reflects the dynamism of Spanish Private Healthcare and the number of initiatives being developed to respond to the current challenges of healthcare provision."
The awards have had an independent jury made up of experts with extensive experience in different areas of the healthcare sector, from management and hospital direction to public administrations, insurance, innovation, and patient representation. Among its members are the former Minister of Health, Ana Pastor; the president of the Platform of Patient Organizations (POP), Carina Escobar; and the health counselor of the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha, Jesús Fernández.
"The transformation that the healthcare system is undergoing demands more collaboration, more dialogue, and a shared vision among all actors in the sector," Baltar pointed out, who concluded by assuring that "Private Healthcare will continue to contribute to strengthening the healthcare system through innovation, quality care, and collaboration."