Two new mobile ICU units provide specialized medical care throughout Catalonia
Pandemic highlights need for technology and know-how beyond large hospitals
Two new mobile ICU units have been created to provide highly-specialized care to medically vulnerable people throughout Catalonia who live far from large, well-equipped hospitals.
"The idea is that, whether you live in Tortosa, La Seu d'Urgell, Cassà de la Seva or wherever, your odds if you have a serious illness – Covid-19 or others – should be the same as if you live, for example, in Barcelona's Eixample neighborhood or L'Hospitalet de Llobregat," says Adrià Comella, the head of Catalan Health Services (CatSalut).
With many medical centers devoting most of their efforts to tackling the effects of the pandemic this year, the need for greater resources, equipment, and know-how at smaller hospitals has become more apparent.
These mobile units, which began operating in November, will be used to either transfer patients to larger centers where they can receive care or help provide assistance at their local hospitals.
According to CatSalut, on a normal year, around 1,500 critically ill patients require specialized ICU care throughout Catalonia.