The Spinal Injury Unit at Gran Canaria's Insular University Hospital has received the Certification of Good Practices in Humanisation in Spinal Injury from the HU-CI Project and AENOR, becoming the first in Spain to achieve the Excellent level.
The Spinal Injury Unit at Gran Canaria's Insular University Hospital, part of the Insular-Materno Infantil University Hospital Complex, has become the first in Spain to receive the Certification of Good Practices in Humanisation in Spinal Injury with the Excellent level, awarded by the HU-CI Project and AENOR.
The Canary Islands' Minister of Health, Esther Monzón, and the managing director of the Hospital Complex, José Blanco, attended the recognition ceremony, which also included the presence of the head of the Unit, José Luis Méndez, the HU-CI Certification Coordinator, José Manuel Velasco, the AENOR director in the Canary Islands, Javier Lantigua, and the patient Eduardo Martínez.
This recognition is the result of a long improvement process involving the professionals of the unit, which is a regional reference for the Canary Islands. The aim has been to enhance the user experience and the quality of care for patients and families facing the complex process of a spinal injury.
The certification is based on the Manual of Good Practices in Humanisation in Spinal Injury, which includes nine strategic lines. Among them are the well-being of the patient and their families, communication, professional care, discharge planning, and continuity of care. AENOR auditors verified compliance with these standards.
Esther Monzón highlighted that "the results obtained are the result of an integral effort in which not only measures focused on the patient's well-being were applied, according to the Manual of Good Practices, but also measures were adopted in the organisation of multidisciplinary teams' work." The minister pointed out comprehensive care, shared decision-making, and training and research as key indicators that ensure progress in knowledge and new approaches to care.
José Blanco, for his part, praised the work of the unit's professionals, who have over 25 years of experience. "This certification is a recognition of the daily effort of the entire team," he stated.
José Manuel Velasco, representative of HU-CI, emphasised that "with this certification, the unit becomes a global benchmark for a model of care that in some places may be considered a utopia and here has become a verifiable reality." Only three units in the world have this recognition.
Javier Lantigua, AENOR director in the Canary Islands, explained that "humanisation is now an essential part of healthcare, as it puts people at the centre of care. This certification recognises the commitment of professionals and the entire organisation to provide increasingly close, respectful, and needs-centred care for patients and families."
Patient Eduardo Martínez shared his experience after being treated in the unit: "The Unit gives hope in the worst moment of our lives, providing us with the necessary tools to face a new life stage, offering us both physical and emotional support, it becomes our home for a few months, and ensures that once we leave, we continue with the control and prevention of various pathologies associated with the injury."
The Spinal Injury Unit of the Hospital Complex began its activity on November 17, 2000, at Gran Canaria's Insular University Hospital. Since then, it has cared for a total of 1,250 patients, averaging 60 patients per year. It is responsible for the hospitalisation of patients with acute spinal injuries or related complications, as well as rehabilitation through disability assessment, prescription of technical aids, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.
Additionally, the unit ensures continuity of care in coordination with the primary care centres of the Canary Islands Health Service. Patients receive specific care in sexuality and fertility, bladder and bowel re-education, home adaptation, psychological and psychotherapeutic support, a training programme for the injured and their families, and upper limb surgery for tetraplegics.
For discharged patients, the unit provides recommendations to avoid complications and maintain adequate follow-up. This certification represents a validation of the human and technical quality of a team that works to improve the lives of those suffering from a spinal injury.
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