The Girona Health Region has expanded its critical and semi-critical patient care model with the launch, on September 14th, of a new Semi-Critical Care Unit at Figueres Hospital. This unit, equipped with eight beds, is designed for patients requiring semi-intensive monitoring and surveillance, and is connected in real-time to Girona's Territorial Critical Patient Unit.
This initiative will allow seriously ill patients who do not require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), or those continuing their recovery after discharge from the Trueta-Santa Caterina ICU, to be treated at a hospital closer to their homes, ensuring clinical safety. The Semi-Critical Care Unit is located in the Emergency Department, in the space previously occupied by the Monitoring Unit (UMO), and involved space adaptation and the installation of advanced technology.
Operating 24/7, the unit is staffed by an enhanced team of healthcare professionals with specialized training. They will receive support from specialists at the Trueta and Santa Caterina hospitals via the Critic.CAT technological platform. This project facilitates real-time information and knowledge transfer, improving decision-making and territorial equity.
Jaume Heredia, manager of the Girona Health Region, expressed his satisfaction, highlighting that the model allows hospitals in the region to offer care levels similar to those at the Trueta-Santa Caterina ICU. He noted that since its opening, five patients have already benefited from this unit, avoiding transfers.
Xavier Verdaguer, CEO of Fundació Salut Empordà, thanked the professionals for their work and emphasized that the model avoids duplication, optimizes resources, and increases proximity and accessibility for patients in Figueres and the Alt Empordà.
Olga Mesquida, Director of Emergencies at Figueres Hospital, highlighted the territorial coordination to ensure continuous training for the healthcare team, with the Semi-Critical Care Unit evolving from the previous Monitoring Unit.
The project will continue with new units at Olot Hospital and Sant Jaume de Calella Hospital. Upon completion, the Girona Health Region will increase its general semi-critical beds from 12 to 44 and intensive care beds from 27 to 39, along with other specialized beds. This will reduce patient transfers out of the region, improve equity, and bring care closer to patients' homes.
The Critic.CAT project, promoted by the Department of Health and CatSalut, and coordinated by the TIC Salut i Social Foundation, aims to optimize the management of critical and semi-critical patients through digital tools and inter-hospital collaboration.
