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The center has obtained QOPI accreditation, awarded by the Foundation for Excellence and Quality in Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. It is the nineteenth Spanish hospital to be accredited for the high standards of quality of care in its Medical Oncology department.
This achievement reflects the work in oncology care, innovation, patient safety and continuous improvement in healthcare processes.
The Medical Oncology Department at the Miguel Servet University Hospital in Zaragoza has received the QOPI (Quality Oncology Practice Initiative) certification, one of the most prestigious international certifications in this specialty. This seal of quality care, awarded by the Foundation for Excellence and Quality in Oncology (ECO) in collaboration with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), recognizes its commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in the treatment of cancer patients.
The certification was granted to the Aragonese center following an audit that evaluated treatment planning, the education and training of its professionals, chemotherapy prescription and drug preparation, patient training and consent, safe chemotherapy administration, and the monitoring and evaluation of patient well-being, among other items.
As a result of this analysis, it was determined that the hospital meets the highest standards required in all areas of oncology healthcare.
"This recognition supports the daily work we do, always focused on the patient, incorporating new technologies to ensure that their time with us is as pleasant and professional as possible," says Dr. Antonio Antón, head of the Medical Oncology Department at Miguel Servet University Hospital (HUMS). Dr. Antón emphasized that "in an area such as the administration of chemotherapy treatments, where the balance between efficacy and toxicity is so close, it requires us to be extremely careful and prevent any potential incidents, thus ensuring the highest quality and safety in care."
A culture of quality
The ECO Foundation, as ASCO's auditor in Spain, has verified the excellence of the center's Medical Oncology service. In this regard, the review of various quality of care parameters sought to reduce unjustified clinical variability and increase patient and professional satisfaction. The ultimate goal is a change in the organizational culture that leads to continuous improvement in the healthcare provided.
The president of the ECO Foundation, Dr. Jesús García-Foncillas, congratulated the center for this recognition: "This achievement reflects the firm commitment of the Miguel Servet University Hospital to excellence in oncological care and the tireless efforts of all its professionals to prioritize innovation, patient safety, and continuous improvement in oncological processes." "Furthermore, the granting of this seal is a symptom of the growing commitment of the centers to fostering a culture of quality and excellence in the field of oncology rooted in specialized training and the humanization of treatments," added García-Foncillas.
QOPI certification in Spain
Other QOPI-certified institutions in Spain are: Central University Hospital of Asturias, Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid, General Hospital of Valencia, Valencian Oncology Institute, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, OncoHealth Cancer Institute of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital, San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Clinical Hospital in Murcia, HC Marbella International Hospital in Malaga, 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid, Morales Meseguer General University Hospital in Murcia, Puerta de Hierro Hospital in Madrid, Juan Ramón Jiménez University Hospital in Huelva, University Hospital of A Coruña, University Hospital of Navarra (HUN), Sant Joan University Hospital in Reus, Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital in Malaga, and the Regional University Hospital of Malaga.
Worldwide, more than 300 centers have achieved this seal, spanning the United States, Brazil, Greece, Spain, Romania, and Saudi Arabia. Spain is the country with the second highest number of QOPI-accredited centers. This seal is granted for a period of three years, after which accreditation must be renewed.
About the ECO Foundation
The ECO Foundation is a network of oncology experts founded in 2009. Created by the heads of the Medical Oncology departments of leading Spanish hospitals, it is focused on achieving excellence and quality in this specialty. It seeks and develops solutions and tools that advance the fight against cancer. The professionals of the ECO Foundation promote quality in three main areas: quality patient care, specialized medical education, and research support. More information is available at http://www.fundacioneco.es and on its social media platforms: Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Miguel Servet University Hospital
The HUMS in Zaragoza is the largest hospital in Aragon, with 1.213 beds and 5.286 employees, making it the second largest hospital in the region in terms of staff. Following its renovation in 2008, it now has a surface area of 160.000 m² and consists of five buildings: the Surgical Block, the General Hospital, the Maternal and Child Hospital, the Multifunctional Building, and the Outpatient Clinic Building.
In the field of Oncology, a distinction is made between care for children and adolescents (< 18 years) with malignant neoplasms and care for adult patients.
The Oncohematology Unit for the care of children and adolescents at Miguel Servet Hospital, which belongs to the Pediatrics Department of this hospital, is designated as a reference unit for all sectors in which the Aragon Health System is territorially and organizationally structured. This is intended to achieve a concentration of cases that allows for the accumulation of experience and optimization of multidisciplinary care for these patients under 18 years of age with oncohematological tumors.
The clinical care area for adult cancer patients (Clinical Oncology) comprises the Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Hematology Departments, which are directly responsible for these services. They are also closely involved with the other specialties and services—medical, surgical, and central—as well as laboratories, diagnostic testing, and pharmacy, among others—that are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. The collaborative work of all services is essential and fundamental, helping to achieve a truly multidisciplinary approach.
The coordination of care and the unification of criteria are carried out within the various Tumor Committees, specific to each of the neoplasms. This is the forum where the most appropriate therapeutic sequence for each patient is discussed and decided. It is also responsible for developing, drafting, and publishing the various diagnostic-therapeutic and follow-up protocols under the Committee's jurisdiction, and for recording new cases diagnosed in each subcommittee.
The Medical Oncology Service serves cancer patients in Sectors I and II of Zaragoza, as well as those at the Alcañiz Hospital (since 2010) and Barbastro Hospital (November 2023), representing a population of nearly 800.000. It is also a referral center for the San Jorge Hospital in Huesca and the Obispo Polanco Hospital in Teruel.
Source: Government of Aragon
Photographer: From left to right: J. Abellán, director of HUMS; A. Antón, head of the Medical Oncology Department; J. Artal, head of the Medical Oncology Department; and J. Gª-Foncillas, president of the ECO Foundation. Government of Aragon
