SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 20th Feb (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Health Minister of the Canary Islands government, Esther Monzón, announced on Tuesday, during her speech at the Health Commission of the regional Parliament, that the Health Services Management of the Health Area of El Hierro, which is part of the Canarian Health Service (SCS), will introduce a Home Hospitalization Unit (HADO) later this year.
According to the counselor, this unit is proposed as an alternative care for numerous medical processes, which can be administered at the patient’s residence by medical and nursing staff. This will provide specialized, secure, and efficient care, albeit in a home environment, which can have a beneficial impact on the patient’s recovery process.
For a patient to be eligible for treatment in such a unit, the main requirement is that they are stable clinically, with a positive progress, a confirmed diagnosis, and a prescribed treatment, which can be adjusted by the specialist medical team based on their progress. Once the patient is identified as a candidate for treatment at HADO, the professionals will plan daily home visits and personalized care and treatment schedules, including hospital tests that may be required, for which hospital visits will also be scheduled.
MINOR SURGERY
In addition, Esther Monzón also revealed that the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) is working towards establishing a Minor Surgery consultation at El Hierro hospital in 2024 to reduce the waiting list, particularly in Dermatology, and consequently minimize the waiting time for patient care.
Regarding Primary Care, the counselor mentioned that training is underway for two medical professionals from each of the island’s health centers in abdominal ultrasound to commence offering this service at this level of care.
During her address, she also informed that a new Psychology professional has joined the Early Care Unit (UAT) at the port of La Estaca, thus fulfilling the demand at the Nuestra Señora de los Reyes Hospital with a clinical psychologist who was previously referred from this UAT.
“This service is crucial on the island as it is a multi-disciplinary resource that provides assistance to children from zero to six years old with developmental disorders or at risk of developing them, as well as their families. Since its inception, this facility has catered to approximately fifty patients,” Monzón explained.
SERVICES PORTFOLIO
The Nuestra Señora de los Reyes Hospital offers a range of services encompassing twenty-two medical-surgical specialties: Internal medicine, Traumatology, General surgery, Radiology, Psychiatry, Hematology, Anesthesiology, Hospital pharmacy, Digestive, Urology, Emergencies, Allergology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, endoscopy, Neurology, Neurophysiology, Pulmonology, Ophtamology, Otorhinolaryngology, Rehabilitation, and pacemaker revision.
Health professionals on the island of El Hierro cater to a total of 10,546 patients with a health card.