We set out to meet the needs of the patient immediately with energy efficient buildings and an environment that facilitates recovery. This is known as a “healing environment”.

Factors such as good air conditioning and insulation of facilities, green spaces, adequate signage or the use of natural light are key to the design of a hospital. That is why Vall d'Hebron University Hospital has launched initiatives such as the new Neurology Department, with spaces painted in pastel and relaxing colours, lights that are regulated according to patients’ visual needs and computer-controlled air conditioning.

The Intensive Care Medicine Department is committed to the humanisation of the Intensive Care Unit of the General Hospital, with the installation of smart TVs and provision of smart watches. It has been proven that these items make the patients feel more comfortable and facilitate their treatment.

Other examples of humanisation at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital are: the decoration of the Children’s Hospital and the Women’s Hospital; the use of organic food waste from the hospital kitchen for biomass; and the installation of thermal solar panels that will later be replaced by photovoltaic panels.

In the digital field, we also have the Vall d’Hebron Channel. The channel is free and accessible to everyone who has been admitted to the hospital. Inpatients are able to watch health promotion and prevention videos, conceived to help them adopt healthy habits.

Moreover, to reduce immobility levels, physical exercises are displayed on the screens which encourage patients to stay mobile. Finally, to prevent insomnia, inpatients can also view relaxation exercises on the screens.

We are constantly striving to improve coexistence on the Campus, putting the patient at the centre. We are working to reduce noise, reduce atmospheric emissions, reduce waste and reduce energy consumption.

In short, humanising hospital care means adapting to the needs of patients through buildings that welcome them and respond to their requests.

The Campus promotes the improvement of the experience and services for citizens and professionals, with measures that allow the most urgent shortcomings in our environment to be addressed, in line with sustainability criteria. In this sense, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus is developing projects to become a more accessible and smart campus.

We are working to bring the Campus in line with the national and international benchmark we represent. Our environment must work alongside us, projecting towards the new needs for the future and preparing us for the new challenges of public health over the next 20 years.

The surroundings

The surroundings affect our level of service and patient experience. That is why the new Smart Campus model we are working on will guarantee its environmental sustainability and accessibility to the public. Changing the architecture throughout the Campus, establishing an architecture of unique buildings that symbolise the medicine of the future, opening up the hospital to the neighbourhood.

We are building a people-friendly Campus, providing green spaces and taking advantage of natural resources. Restricting traffic flow and rearranging the flow of authorised vehicles, as well as a better flow of goods.

All this is being planned in the context of the new VHIR building, which includes rearranging and reassessing the Campus buildings, evaluating them and applying sustainability measures aimed at efficiency and energy savings, constant maintenance and reduction of management costs.

“Smartcare”

Vall d’Hebron is actively incorporating mobile technology into its relations with patients and staff, as a tool to improve medical care, research, teaching, patient relations and, ultimately, contribute to improving the public health system.

The flagship app of the Vall d’Hebron Campus is a project that serves to put the healthcare system at patients’ fingertips. It facilitates access to and being on campus, with useful information about logistical aspects such as timetables, maps and contact details; it shares news, activities and other information of interest about the Campus, and incorporates a private patient area.

This private area, which will be called “My Vall d’Hebron”, will allow the patient to track their history of appointments, operations, tests, etc., and invite other people to share this information. The top functionality that “My Vall d’Hebron” incorporates is the ability to track operations.

To improve professionals’ communication and knowledge, the Campus has also developed the We Are Vall d’Hebron application, and is partnering in the development of other applications to facilitate the relationship and experience of patients and citizens.

Smart process management

“Smart” also means using technologies and new methods to accelerate and optimise processes. From connecting facilities, which allows smarter management, to organising work processes (relationships between staff, leadership, group working in the cloud, use of Big Data and global management systems).

At Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, innovation is essential in ensuring that our services and patient care are of the highest quality and at the forefront of current medical trends. Our strength in healthcare, research and teaching means we constantly incorporate new knowledge, generating value not just for patients but for professionals and the wider organisation. This strategic emphasis drives us to overcome new challenges in social and health care, improving sustainability and efficiency in the health system.

This strategy has led to the following concrete results: the creation of 18 spin-offs and start-ups; the transfer of 74 patents; the implementation of 12 projects thanks to the 'Jo innovo' competition; and the participation of over 400 patients and professionals in co-creation processes. The figures demonstrate our commitment to applied innovation and its capacity to generate a real impact.

To drive the culture of innovation in the Campus, we promote initiatives such as the 'Jo innovo' Competition: a space where our professionals can present and develop innovative ideas that transform clinical practice and hospital organisation. The winners receive specialised training and the opportunity to discover innovative ecosystems in other European hospitals, through the European University Hospitals Alliance (EUHA).

To learn more about our innovation projects and initiatives, visit this section.