With a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model, the new functional unit has managed to reduce the waiting time for a first visit to just 15 days. The Memory Unit at Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB) is the reference team for cognitive assessment for residents of southern L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and El Prat de Llobregat, and provides care to more than 2,000 people.
In March, the Dementia Functional Unit of the Neurology Department at Bellvitge Hospital was renamed the Memory Unit. Beyond making the approach to cognitive decline more patient- and family-friendly, the name change reflects a broader concept in the care of these conditions, which range from Alzheimer’s disease to rarer disorders. It includes a series of healthcare improvements that have already reduced the waiting time for a first neuropsychology visit to just 15 days, when previously it could be up to 12 months.
This has been made possible thanks to the reorganization of the unit and the addition of a new neuropsychologist. “We’ve concentrated all consultations and tests into a single morning, starting with the neuropsychology visit, which is essential because it determines the degree of cognitive impairment and provides crucial information for the neurologist’s diagnosis. This is then complemented by various diagnostic tests such as blood work and a CT scan, which are prepared in advance by our colleagues in Primary Care,” explains Dr. Jordi Gascon, head of the Memory Unit at Bellvitge Hospital. During the same session, a nursing consultation is added — to assess disease progression, risks, and caregiver condition — along with a visit from the hospital’s Social Work team. This way, the patient receives medical, nursing, and social evaluations in an integrated manner, within a single morning and in the same consultation space.
These clinical changes are the first among 25 improvement actions that were defined in the transformation process into the new Memory Unit. These also target key areas such as coordination with primary care and regional hospitals, the use of big data through a new way of entering and processing clinical data in SAP (the hospital's clinical management system), and improving the overall patient experience.
The transformation of cognitive decline care has been rolled out through the inclusion of dementia as one of the first conditions addressed in the DAIPO projects (New Capabilities and Digital Transformation in Integrated Care for Patients with Complex Conditions) at Bellvitge Hospital. These projects are promoted and funded by the Catalan Health Service and are part of the transformative initiatives within the SISCAT network. The DAIPO project aims to transform care for patients with chronic and complex diseases through process reengineering, the implementation of new diagnostic and treatment technologies, and the development of a mobile app and multimedia resources.This will support patient empowerment and experience.
It’s worth noting that the new Memory Unit aligns with the strategic lines of Plademcat, the healthcare plan for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Catalonia.
Focus Groups, Collaboration, Teaching, Innovation, and Research
In defining much of the improvement package introduced by the HUB’s Memory Unit, the patient’s voice has been considered through focus groups. These groups have, for example, highlighted the need to reinforce information and support for the caregiver — typically a close family member of the patient.
In the coming weeks, various innovative measures included in the improvement package will be launched. These include peer tutoring, where "expert caregivers" will share their knowledge with those new to caregiving; a new mobile app offering educational content for caregivers and gamified activities for cognitive stimulation in patients; as well as music therapy programs and mindfulness workshops for caregivers.
Additionally, collaboration with regional hospitals and primary care will be intensified. Family physicians will complete one-month rotations at the Memory Unit to become liaison professionals or reference points between the services. A “Code Alzheimer” is also planned, offering phone support to family doctors providing home care for acute cases, helping to prevent unnecessary emergency referrals. The new territorial care model for dementia also boosts research lines, such as the development — already well advanced — of a biomarker for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis via blood testing, which could outperform current biomarkers in early detection.
As Dr. Gascon concludes, this is a project “that improves the quality of life for patients and caregivers; that is safe, adds value and sustainability, and establishes a solid foundation for network-based care.”