Telemedicine Program
OBJECTIVE
To improve the quality of life of patients and their families, as well as to facilitate the proper management of their medical conditions at home.
RELEVANCE
Being able to provide children with medical care and support without the need to travel, which reduces stress for both the children and their families, enables consultation with specialists and multidisciplinary teams, reducing the logistical and emotional burden, and allowing for closer and continuous monitoring.
STATUS AND SCOPE
ACTIVE
The program is developed at the Sant Joan de Déu hospital.
PROJECT START: 2021
BUDGET
198.317 €
(the first year)
131.912 €
(2nd and 3rd year)
€68,780 per year
(starting in 2025)
Dr. Sergi Navarro Vilarrubi, Coordinator of the Palliative Care and Complex Chronic Patient Service of Barcelona's Sant Joan de Déu hospital.
"Through telemedicine, palliative care will reach more children and families, allowing them to stay at home longer and be cared for in a way that is both humane and close."
NEW COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH SANT JOAN DE DÉU HOSPITAL OF BARCELONA
In October 2021, Asociación Anita signed a new collaboration agreement with Sant Joan de Déu hospital in Barcelona, with an initial contribution of 198,317 €, to cope with the increase in home care provided by the Pediatric Palliative Care Unit (from 200 visits per year to more than 1,100).
The donation will enable the implementation of an innovative Telemedicine system. Thanks to this technology, the unit's professionals will be able to monitor patients in their homes and maintain remote interaction with them and their families, and through video calls, they will be able to provide the necessary support immediately at any time of the day.
This innovative project seeks to offer a humanized technological solution, improving the patient and family experience by allowing them to remain in their own home with their loved ones. At the same time, healthcare professionals will be able to control the patient's condition in real time from the hospital, through a monitoring center connected to the patient's medical devices during the videoconference and at times when required.
The Telemedicine program aims to ensure closer and more efficient care, guaranteeing that patients receive the necessary care without having to travel to the hospital at all times, which improves their quality of life and that of their families during this delicate process of pediatric palliative care.
This program operates as a hybrid model in which the hospital provides families with a Bluetooth-enabled telemonitoring technology kit. Through devices such as pulse oximeters, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, and cameras connected to a central tablet, specialized software transmits the patient’s health data directly to the hospital in real time. Prior to this, the unit’s nursing team trains parents on how to use the tools and correctly report any symptoms, while also facilitating direct video consultations with specialists.
This system is specifically designed to ensure that children with cancer or complex chronic illnesses who require palliative care receive comprehensive medical care in their home environment, which provides families with great peace of mind and security 24 hours a day, as healthcare professionals constantly monitor their vital signs and offer a direct line of communication in the event of any clinical deterioration. This approach transforms the role of parents by giving them greater autonomy and confidence in managing the illness, while allowing pediatricians and nurses to detect any changes early on and immediately adjust pain management protocols or treatments.
