Vic hosts the Twelfth Social Health ICT R&D&I Conference to discuss forms of treatment, integrated care and the paradigm shift in organisational culture

The Twelfth Social Health ICT R&D&I Conference Days was held yesterday at the Great Hall of the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia. It was jointly organised by the TIC Salut Social Foundation and the University of Vic, with the collaboration of the Catalan Health Institute – Central Catalonia, Vic Hospital Consortium, Althaia, EAP Vic, Santa Creu de Vic Hospital Foundation and FORES. It tackled the implementation of social and health integration in a practical way.  

The Catalan Government Minister of Health, Manel Balcells, opened the event emphasising that “The challenges are clear and intense. The Integrated Social and Health Care Agency is an instrument to effectively deploy integrated care. This instrument also includes technology.”  

Focussing on the community and ICT, the conference brought together more than 270 people with interdisciplinary profiles such as social workers, nurses, doctors, psychologists, technologists and managers of the Health System and the Department of Social Rights. The debate generated made it possible to discuss the current state of the matter with evidence based on research, projects and real initiatives. 

Person-directed care 

In a joint speech by Aina Plaza, Director General of Health Planning at the Department of Health, and Marta Segura, Director General of Personal Autonomy and Disability at the Department of Social Rights, the audience learned about the political perspective on integrated treatment and care. Implementation of a change in the care model is beginning in seven regions of Catalonia with the intention of gradually extrapolating it throughout Catalonia. The aim is to leverage the knowledge and expertise gained in Osona, Manresa, Amposta, Gironès, Garrotxa/Ripollès, El Prat and Barcelona to start this initial phase.  

The emphasis placed on local areas is no coincidence. It is professionals such as nurses and social workers who know the background details and can best help promote what Segura pointed out: “The concept of person-centred care is outdated. In the context of a digital society such as the present one, we should talk of person-directed care” in which the final decision on how a person wants to be cared for ultimately depends on the recipient of the service. 

Paradigm shift in organisational culture 

The talk continued with a discussion on how to integrate to serve better between Mr Toni Dedeu, a Primary and Integrated Health Care consultant at the World Health Organization, and Mr Jordi Piera, Digital Health Strategy Director at the Catalan Health Service. Piera reflected on some keys to success in change management, stating that “It is necessary to break down the isolated and vertical working dynamics between different levels of care and organisation. And also between professional specialisations and the operational model in the provision of services and sharing information from systems.” According to the speakers, the success of integrating care involves a paradigm shift in organisational culture. Seeing the whole picture, working together with a common goal. In other words, rethinking the entire organisational aspect. In this scenario, ICT plays an important role in aiding communication and sharing knowledge and information.  

Piera concluded, “We will make fewer mistakes if we think about the work cycle. What the care process is, the information it needs, and how to apply solutions to specific cases.” 

The conference concluded with knowledge pills provided by various technological and personal care projects by companies and organisations in Central Catalonia.  

Contact details for more information:  

UVic – UCC 

Eva Funoll: Tel. 628 383 421 – eva.funoll@uvic.cat 

TIC Salut Social Foundation 

Victor Barberà Aranda: Tel. 677345129 – vbarbera@ticsalutsocial.cat