Over 200 professionals attend conference on a new model for critical care in southern Catalonia

The Celler de Vila seca hosted today’s conference “Transforming Critical Care in Catalonia. CRÍTIC.CAT-SUD”, bringing together around 200 healthcare professionals from Camp de Tarragona and Terres de l’Ebre in Catalonia. The event focused on presenting and discussing a new network based model for caring for critically ill patients.

The opening session featured the Minister for Health in Catalonia, Olga Pané, alongside the Mayor of Vila seca, Pere Segura, Dr Ferran Roche Campo, Manager of the Terres de l’Ebre Health Region, and Dr Marta Milà, Manager of the Camp de Tarragona Health Region.

The programme was organised into a series of panel discussions, each addressing different aspects of the new care model, with broad representation from healthcare professionals across the region.

The first session explored how intensive care units can collaborate more effectively in a digital environment. Speakers included Maria Bodí from Tarragona’s Joan XXIII University Hospital and Gaspar Masdéu from Tortosa Verge de la Cinta University Hospital. The discussion highlighted how strong coordination between centres is essential to improving outcomes for critically ill patients.

This was followed by a panel on technology and future challenges, with contributions from Fede Esteban of Crític.net, Joan Guanyabens, Director of the TIC Salut i Social Foundation, and Josep Gómez from the ICS Camp de Tarragona. The session was chaired by Pol Pérez from the Catalan Health Service.

The conference also included the presentation of the functional plan for critical care in southern Catalonia. Alongside Bodí and Masdéu, contributors included M Fernanda Bodí from Hospital Santa Tecla, Imma Vallverdú from Sant Joan de Reus University Hospital, and Teresa Subirats from the regional emergency medical service. Dr Roche Campo moderated the session.

A key part of the programme focused on the evolving role of clinical emergency codes, featuring leading professionals from several specialised programmes, including heart attack, stroke, trauma and sepsis pathways, as well as the role of emergency medical services. This session was moderated by Jaume Estany from the Department of Health of Catalonia.

The final panel looked at how critical care fits within the broader healthcare system. Speakers included Assumpta Ricart from the Catalan Health Service, Aina Plaza, Director General for Health Planning, and Ariadna Mas from the Department of Health, with Plaza also chairing the discussion.

The event concluded with remarks from Dr Marta Milà and Pilar Ricart, President of SOCMIC, who emphasised that stronger collaboration between intensive care units across the region is key to delivering more efficient, equitable and patient centred care.

This conference marks a further step in rolling out the CRÍTIC.CAT-SUD model, built on regional collaboration, digital tools and the commitment of healthcare teams.

Source: Press release from the Department of Health