The Miguel Servet University Hospital in Zaragoza launches a pioneering program to assist patients with blindness.

The Excelsiov project, supported by Roche Farma, enables more efficient care for macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. The IIS Aragón will analyze the program's results and disseminate the ophthalmological care model.

El Miguel Servet University Hospital of Zaragoza, In collaboration with Roche Pharma, has launched the project Excelsior, a pioneering program that aims to Improve care for patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), two of the main causes of severe vision loss in people over 50 years of age.

The program, led by the Medical Retina Unit of the Ophthalmology Service, seeks to offer more efficient care, as well as improve the visual quality of patients as a result of better adherence to treatments and, consequently, reduce the number of patients on the waiting list.

In addition, the project includes a clinical staff training program through a series of sessions on topics such as new approaches to these pathologies, the healthcare circuit, clinical case studies and best practices, management processes, and multidisciplinary committees.

"Through this project, we not only ensure the constant updating of knowledge, but also the transmission of the best clinical practices, positioning the Miguel Servet University Hospital as a center of excellence in the specialty of Ophthalmology," said the manager of the Zaragoza II sector. Patricia Palazón. 

"Furthermore, with this new model, we hope to achieve greater administrative efficiency, promoting greater patient adherence to treatment and optimizing management times, which we hope will result in improved quality of life for patients and their caregivers and more efficient use of clinical resources," he added.

On behalf of Roche Farma, Rita Casas, regional director of the Northeast area, explained that this project, which aims to create a model of excellent ophthalmological care, "is part of the company's commitment to collaborating with the Aragonese healthcare system to improve patients' quality of life and promote efficient management of hospital resources through the implementation of innovative solutions."

The head of the Ophthalmology service at Servet, Luis Pablo Júlvez, explains the project.

The head of the Ophthalmology Service at the Miguel Servet Hospital, Luis Pablo Júlvez, has highlighted that the launch of this project "responds to the urgent need to optimize flows and improve management functional in clinical care, reducing the operational load and enhancing the available resources.” 

“This model of High Resolution Ophthalmology Consultation (ARCOFT) proposes a single medical procedure that allows for the performance of all necessary tests in a condensed manner, significantly reducing waiting times and increasing the efficiency of the service for patients and for the center itself," the head of the service emphasized.

New technologies

This new approach is possible thanks to the emergence of new technologies, such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which has allowed for more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments. 

These tools pose logistical challenges that require a profound restructuring of clinical processes. “The Excelsiov project seeks to address these challenges through a series of innovative strategies that seek to standardize procedures, reduce clinical variability, and improve the quality of care,” added Dr. Júlvez.

The head of the Retina section of the Miguel Servet University Hospital, Oscar Ruiz Moreno, has also highlighted the suitability of the drugs used: “The New drugs allow us to extend the treatment interval for our patients And that means a reduction in both the care burden and the treatment burden for our patients. They're allowing us to perfectly monitor the progress of the people we treat."

The head of the Retina section at Servet, Óscar Ruiz Moreno, details the advantages of the new drugs used.

El Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) also supports the Excelsiov project. Its managing director, Oscar Lopez, highlighted that this initiative "fits perfectly with our mission to drive innovation in healthcare through research and clinical process optimization." He also emphasized that from the IIS Aragón "we will contribute to analysis of results and dissemination of the model, with the aim of being able to replicate it in other ophthalmological centers."

Project Phases

The project is proposed in Two phases: The first phase will involve internal and external assessments to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for resource optimization. Detailed questionnaires and analyses will guide the creation of working groups specializing in management workflows, infrastructure coordination, and staff training. This initial phase will lay the groundwork for a more effective implementation tailored to the specific needs of the hospital and its patients.

The second phase of the project will focus on implementing optimized workflows and adequately training staff in the new care model. The goal is to ensure an optimal workflow and minimize system deficiencies. This will likely translate into a tangible improvement in the satisfaction of both internal staff and patients, who will enjoy faster and more efficient care.

The Excelsiov project also includes a training module for clinical staff. Various training sessions will be held covering topics such as the latest scientific updates on retinal diseases, inter-hospital coordination, and the exchange of best practices.

Finally, it's worth noting that the model's implementation is completely scalable and can be adopted by other ophthalmology services, not only regionally but also nationally and internationally.

Source: Aragon Today

Image: The Excelsiov program seeks improved quality of care for patients with severe vision loss. / Government of Aragon