On November 20 and 21, the Portuguese town of Castelo Branco hosted the new follow-up meeting of the REVITAL project, Socioeconomic revitalization of low population density areas through clinical telecare. The meeting of the 9 members of the consortium in charge of executing the project took place at the Castelo Branco Polytechnic Institute (IPCB) and at the Associação Empresarial da Beira Baixa (AEBB), headquarters of the two Portuguese entities that are part of REVITAL.
Thus, the REVITAL project showed in Castelo Branco the new advances on which the entities of each of the three countries (Portugal, Spain and France) are working together. Among them, the launch of a new offer of physiotherapists, the assessment of potential patients before the end of the year and the start of piloting in January 2025 stood out, which represent some of the most relevant milestones that have been achieved, and others that are planned for the coming months.
Castelo Branco: Wednesday, November 20th
On Wednesday, November 20, the members of the consortium that make up this European project met for a first day that began at the facilities of ESALD – Escola Superior de Saúde Dr. Lopes Dias, where we visited the center and addressed key issues in the development of new technologies and their application for physiotherapy.
Featured agenda:
- Guided tour of the School of Health – IPCB – Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco.
- Discussion on administrative management (justification, expenses, controllers).
- Advances in the selection of innovative technologies.
- Update on the hiring and training of personnel to implement these technologies.
- Inspiring presentations from guest physiotherapists:
- Carlos Martins: «Scientific evidence of new technologies».
- João Moreira: «Physiotherapy at home: reality in the Local Health Unit of Castelo Branco».
“The results of the technologies applied to physiotherapy reveal that it optimizes both mobility and physical function, enhances activity levels and contributes to improving economic efficiency,” highlighted Carlos Martins, from the Castelo Branco Local Health Unit.
“In Europe, 1.1 million people suffer a stroke and it is expected that in 2025 this figure will increase to 1.5 million, which will mean an increase in the demand for neurorehabilitation. There is no intervention that works for everyone, but nothing is more effective than practice to help learn and respond,” said João Moreira, who gave examples of technological tools that can help professionals.
The day ended with a very beneficial dinner in which we strengthened ties, shared experiences and planned the next steps of the REVITAL project.
Castelo Branco: Thursday, November 21
On the second day, the consortium moved to the headquarters of AEBB Associaçao Empresarial Beira Baixa, where Sónia Azevedo, deputy director of the entity, welcomed us and showed us a video where we could learn more about the facilities, the mission and the work carried out at AEBB.
Featured agenda:
- Welcome AEBB.
- Perspectives from invited experts from Castilla y León:
- Benedicto Caminero, former technical director of Care for the elderly and people with disabilities, Management of Social Services Junta de Castilla y León.
- Javier de la Nava, physiotherapist specialized in Pain and Neurosciences.
- Andrea Caminero, physiotherapist specialized in Therapeutic Exercise.
- Definition of different business models of the three pilot cases
Implementation of pilot initiatives based on the results obtained and the start date of the piloting - Communication and dissemination of communication results: presentation of the strategy and reminder of tasks
Common vision towards better care
“What is happening in health not only affects nationally, but also internationally. The impact on health has to do with biological issues, lifestyle and also in relation to the services provided on health,” highlighted Benedicto Caminero, who referred to four fundamental axes on which action must be taken: primary care, specialized care, mental health and social services. “We need to group the professions to give unique attention to the person,” he added.
Javier de la Nava, who works in the Active Strategy Unit of the Pain Unit, highlighted the importance of the “common vision” of the different care professionals to “work together with the same objective.” «We follow up the patient for quite a long time because we understand that the treatment of chronic pain is a lifestyle change. It is a model that is being tried to be implemented throughout Spain and that allows a large number of people to be treated but in a correct way,” he stressed.
For her part, Andrea Caminero, physiotherapist and founder of Fénix Fisioterapia, highlighted the importance of the relationship between the public and the private “for this to be efficient.” «Work groups have adherence and social benefits, and they are also more economical for people. There is a clear need for private resources to have communication with public resources. Since you make a lifestyle change, it is easier to form a good habit than a bad one. It is necessary that there be a continuation with the patients,” he testified.
The meeting ended with a meal in which the members of the consortium were able to say goodbye and head to the next follow-up meeting that will take place in six months.
Who makes up the REVITAL consortium?
SIVI leads the project “REVITAL: Socioeconomic revitalization of low population density areas through clinical telecare” which is part of the Interreg VI-B Sudoe 2021 – 2027 Program, whose objective is to promote research, technological development and innovation between Spain, France and Portugal.
The project will be developed with a time horizon of 2026, thanks to the work of the multi-regional consortium formed by 9 entities in the health and social-health sector from Spain, France and Portugal, which are:
- Cluster Innovative Solutions for Independent Living (SIVI)
- Management of Social Services of Castilla y León
- San Cebrián Foundation
- GOGOA Mobility Robots
- Ecole Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancées (ESTIA)
- University of DEUSTO
- Etablissement Public de Santé de GARAZI
- Beira Baixa Business Association (AEBB)
- Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (IPCB)
