Cardiology

The Heart Centre

The Heart Centre at Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria consists of two jointly managed services: the Cardiology Service and the Heart Surgery Service. We serve a reference population of 450,000 people, and for certain specialties, such as Cardiac Surgery, Arrhythmias, or select cardiac catheterization procedures, we offer coverage to over 1,100,000 people.

The future holds significant challenges for us. The ageing population wil have more coexisting conditions and a longer life expectancy, a scenario that presents advances and technological innovations in the treatment of this population, and a growing demand to treat higher-risk patients with less aggressive approaches. All of which is coupled with the need to offer the best possible care while maintaining sustainable costs and providing maximum patient satisfaction.

Healthcare Provision

In its Quality Framework Plan, the Andalusian Regional Department of Health defined “quality improvement” as a basic goal of Andalusia’s health policy, a fundamental element in consolidating the Andalusian Public Health System and reinforcing its social legitimacy. To this end, it was established that all actions of the organizations that make up our healthcare system should prioritize service to the citizen over any other objective, considering satisfaction of their needs and aspirations as a quality standard—among others.

To make this approach a reality, the baseline was the need to involve all healthcare professionals in this policy of improvement, recognizing their work, valuing their dedication and attitude, and being aware that their active, positive cooperation with the people using the services is an essential, determining element for both quality and generating trust in public health services.

SAS Style Guide

Formulation of the guide is of great value and shows that the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) cares about the quality of its actions, respects its users, and is concerned about meeting the needs and expectations of its citizens

To this end, the Andalusian Health Service’s creation and dissemination of its own style guide is a step forward. It adapts to the values, mission, and nature of the public service it provides to citizens. Not only is this guide -unique in our National Health System- of great value, it also indicates the extent to which the SAS cares about the quality of its actions, respect for its users, and meeting the needs and expectations of citizens, who are central to and the driving force behind quality improvement programmes.

This style guide serves as a reminder of the values the Andalusian Health Service strives to express in the relationships between professionals and users—values that are the expression of the “heart and soul” of this organization, which is aimed at meeting patients’ needs and expectations, giving priority to the principles of equity and respect for differences, a personalized approach, and the holistic nature of the care process.