One year later: Mónica Ferrero interviews Vicente Gómez

“The humanization Plan of the ICU of the Community of Madrid has been a milestone in the improvement of the human (not technical) aspect of health care. This document has centered on the proposition, definition and implementation of activities to that end.

The chapter on health infrastructure has been drafted by the close collaboration of professionals from different fields. This section establishes as objective to create human spaces to promote the wellness physical and psychologycal of patients, families and professionals. Through ten specific objectives and 40 activities, with, sometimes more than one indicator per activity, we want to get a change in structures to make them more efficient, comfortable and healthy for all agents involved in care.

We could say that, although ambitious in some of its aims, and the disadvantage of a not-always-low cost, infrastructure proposals try to reconcile the feasibility with the immediate impact. Measures on the control of noise, communication with the patient, and comfort in the family living room, can be examples of how change annoying habits and barriers. These activities were exposed visually in a presentation during the II Conference of Humanizing Intensive Care, held in Barcelona.

We are still at an early stage of dissemination and explanation of the document to all healthcare professionals of the ICU. But it is catching on the feeling that it is not science fiction to make simple modifications, without waiting to carry out expensive works, which make our environments (boxes, professional spaces and areas of family) more pleasant locations where care and work.

To collaborate in this document has made me think with my ICU mates on structural aspects. The changes are not dramatic, but we have made progress. Specifically in my ICU, we are more aware of the problem that generates the noise at night and there is a gradual awareness over its control.

Also we have worried about for further customization of the box so that the patient can recognize familiar stimuli (photos, pictures). Finally, we are testing devices of electronic visual communication with paralyzed or intubated patients that will allow us to find out what a patient with limitations of expression wants to say.

It is also relevant that during last year, humanization, also in the health infrastructures, has become a trending issue among patients, families, professionals and managers.

The humanization Plan, has enabled to create a friendly climate of opinion and debate between these groups. From this forum appears, and will emerge more and more, the need to implement changes in our way and enviroment of care. Not considering a priori the inevitability of a statu quo paved of concepts obsolete sanctified by a uncritical routine. “

A climate of opinion based on empathy and emotion springs with force, but based on instruments and verifiable methodology, which will make possible the “small mirable” of combining technical expertise with human warmth.”