The Healthcare Barometer 2008 is now available. You will also find the microdata and technical documentation  for 1996 through 2008. (In Spanish).

Royal Decree 365/2009, of 20 March, has been published in the Official State Gazette. This law establishes the minimum health and safety requirements and conditions for the use of external automatic and semiautomatic defibrillators outside of the healthcare system. (In Spanish).

The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs has published Order SCO/715/2009, de 9 de marzo convening the National Healthcare System 2008 Quality Awards. The deadline for entries is 30 June. (In Spanish).

The official presentation of the standards and recommendations documents from the healthcare units will take place this coming 26 May at the Assembly Hall of the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Policy, Pº del Prado 18-20 Madrid.

The Women's Health Observatory of the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Policy has published the Health and Gender Report 2007-2008, Women and Men in the Healthcare Professions (in Spanish).

The registration period is open – until 7 May - for the lecture Prevention and Care in Gender Violence for Mental Health Teams, 6th edition, given by the Carlos III Health Institute from the 18th to 22 May for mental health professionals from the regional healthcare authorities. On 18 May, a seminar on Abused Women & Survivor Therapy: Issues for Therapists & Battered Women will be given by psychologist Leonor Walker, which will be free and open to the public (registration required).

On 26 March, the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Policy held a Meeting of the Mental Health Strategy Evaluation and Oversight Committee of the National Healthcare System during which they presented the Draft Strategy Evaluation Report.

On 30 March, the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Policy held a Meeting of the COPD Strategy Evaluation and Oversight Committee of the National Healthcare System during which they approved the Objectives and Indicators for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Policy in collaboration with the Association of Critical Care Professionals, SEMICYUC, have published a report on the “National Study on Nosocomial Infection Surveillance in Intensive Care Units.

On 21 April, the second meeting of the Hand Hygiene Campaign Coordinators in the National Healthcare System was held at the Headquarters of INGESA (National Institute of Healthcare Management). Numerous subjects were covered, including various initiatives that both the regional authorities and the Quality Agency are developing for Hand Hygiene: A Global Call to Action scheduled by the WHO for 5 May 2009.
http://www.seguridaddelpaciente.es/

On 22 April, the Oversight Meeting for the Zero Bacteraemia Project was held in Barcelona to monitor the evolution of the project in the Autonomous Communities and ICUs and to learn about the progress made in the project in Michigan (USA) from Chris Goeshel of Johns Hopkins University.
http://www.seguridaddelpaciente.es/

[+ Highlights]

FECMA (The Spanish Breast Cancer Association) request that patient safety become a priority healthcare policy in the national health system (in Spanish) (Azprensa, 21 April 2009)

The Digital Health Record Project in the National Healthcare System of Spain enters into its last phase (Ministry of Healthcare and Social Policy. Press Office, 17 April 2009) (in Spanish).

Close to 100 healthcare professionals receive training on the prevention of infections (Regional Government of Castilla La Mancha, 3 April 2009) (in Spanish).

[+ News]

• VI SEE “Enrique Nájera” Research Grant for young epidemiologists 2009. For the 6th consecutive year, the Spanish Epidemiology Society (SEE for the Spanish initials) has opened up the period for the presentation of research proposals. The grant, sponsored by the Carlos III Health Institute, provides €6,000 euros seed money for research projects led by a SEE member under the age of 35.