Presentation at HIMSS Europe 2020 https://www.himss.org/event-himss-europe-digital

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Preparing for the next wave
The Catalan Primary Care experience
Josep Vidal-Alaball. MD, PhD, MPH
Head of the Central Catalonia Innovation and Research
Primary Care Unit

2. Benvinguts!
Preparing for the next wave
The Catalan Primary Care experience
Josep Vidal-Alaball
Head of the Central Catalonia Innovation
and Research Primary Care Unit
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3. Central Catalonia
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Preparing for the next wave. The Catalan Primary Care experience
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Population: 407,606 habitants
Extension: 4,940.69 km²

4. How we responded (March-May)
• Initially many health professionals affected (COVID-19
or quarantined)
 Closure of small practices (rural) - Concentration in
big Health Centers
 ▼demand/visits in Health Centers
 ▲Home visits
 Nursing homes ➤ primary care
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Preparing for the next wave. The Catalan Primary Care experience

5. How we responded (March-May)
 ▲Non-face-to-face visits (for the first time in primary care more than face-to-face)
• Telephone calls (triage, COVID-19 follow up)
• Virtual visits (tasks): repeat prescriptions, sick notes…
• eConsultations (access for all)
• Video Consultations (new)
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Preparing for the next wave. The Catalan Primary Care experience
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9C 9D 9T 9E-9Ec-9Ev 9R Altres

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 Non-face-to-face visits (TELEMEDICINE)
 Re-opening of small practices (rural)
 ▲demand/visits in Health Centers
 Follow up of Chronic patients
 COVID-19 testing (PCR, serology)
 Follow up of COVID-19 patients (and contacts)
 Nursing homes
 Home visits
The situation NOW (▲Primary Care)
Preparing for the next wave. The Catalan Primary Care experience

7. The FUTURE (”opportunities” for technology)
 Non-face-to-face visits (TELEMEDICINE) to stay as part of routine day to day visits.
BUT need to:
• Involve patients
• Train professionals
• Avoid “Digital” Inverse care law
• Promote remote monitoring
 Opportunity to reduce unnecessary healthcare (not an excuse to cut healthcare!)
 Opportunity to potentiate selfcare (be aware of inequalities)
 All COVID-19 in Primary Care ? – Primary Care specialization
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Preparing for the next wave. The Catalan Primary Care experience

8. He who neglects to drink of the spring of
experience is likely to die of thirst in the
desert of ignorance
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“
Li Po
Preparing for the next wave. The Catalan Primary Care experience

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Thank you!
Josep Vidal-Alaball
jvidal.cc.ics@gencat.cat
CONTACT
@jvalaball