This is the ‘virtual’ floor for seniors in residences

The virtual hospitalization floor for patients in nursing homes has counted more than 200 patients admitted, with an average age of 89 yearsin its first year of operation.

On this first anniversary, the Puerta de Hierro hospital indicates that the patients and family members who use this resource have given it an overall rating of 9.6, even higher than that given by the patients admitted to the physical plant of the hospital. Geriatrics Service from the center, which also exceeds 9 points.

Likewise, hospital data reflects that virtual hospitalization brings with it more efficient management of resources.

This virtual hospitalization service for elderly patients in nursing homes was launched jointly by the Geriatrics Service and the Innovation Area of ​​the Puerta de Hierro hospital in 2024.

For this, the data of the admitted patients were integrated in the social and health residences in the area served by the Puerta de Hierro Hospital, on the platform that groups medical records and shows admissions to the center.

The advantages offered by this resource are multiple. On the one hand, hospitalization in residences allows effectively address health needs of residents without the need to transfer them to a hospital, which favors more personalized and continuous management of the patient, while reducing complications associated with an external hospital admission such as nosocomial infections, delirium, falls, ulcers, catheters or functional deterioration, among others.

On the other hand, in the virtual hospitalization ward, patients are assessed daily both by hospital professionals and residence staff, providing comprehensive medical care in residences. In this way, coordination between the staff of both institutions is improved and, at the same time, the rehabilitation and recovery of residents in their usual environment is promoted.

“The implementation of this hospitalization model in nursing homes offers better clinical outcomes and greater satisfaction for residents and their families, providing an innovative solution to current challenges in senior care,” says Dr. Cristina Bermejohead of the Geriatrics Service at the Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda Hospital.

October 1, International Day of Older Persons

The results of this virtual hospitalization project for nursing home patients have been announced within the framework of the celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, which is commemorated annually every October 1 and attended by the General Director of Socio-Health Coordination of the Ministry of Health, Carmen González Paz.

To pay tribute to our elders, the Puerta de Hierro Hospital has invited, for the ninth consecutive year, all the people who live in the area’s residences, as well as patients admitted to the hospital itself, Enjoy a day full of activities. In addition, there was a special guest who came to spend time with the elders: the former player and former soccer coach Vicente del Bosque.

The nearly 200 seniors who participated in the event attended workshops about skin care and nutritionand they have been able to enjoy a healthy breakfast while watching educational videos, discovering new words in the intergenerational dictionary and the specialists from the hospital’s Geriatric Service solving their doubts in the hospital’s assembly room.

Likewise, throughout the morning, the Puerta de Hierro professionals have performed tests on the attendees. assessment of general health, such as measuring weight or height, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, oxygen saturation, evaluation of muscle strength, walking speed and assessment of both the frailty index and nutritional status.

The day continued with a class crossfit health training and another functional stimulation activity through didactic pasodobles. Finally, the elderly were able to enjoy a concert, thanks to the collaboration of Música en Vena.