On May 27, 2024, in the offices of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, a group of 22 professionals from social-health entities in the field of palliative care created the HENKO Bizkaia community by joining forces with the operational social-health project « Support from social-health coordination for comprehensive care for people in end-of-life situations at home ».
Professionals from the following entities attended: Arinduz, Biobizkaia, Centro de Dia Etxetic Etxaniz (DFB), Etxetic Zalla (DFB), Etxetic Etxebarri (DFB), OSI Bilbao-Basurto (Osakidetza), Hospital Santa Marina (Osakidetza), Encartaciones Social Services Association, IMQ Igurco, Grupo Babesten, UTE Barritic, OSI BILBAOBASURTO, San Juan de Dios Hospital, Fundación Doble Sonrisa and Getxo Zurekin, Pastoral de la Salud-Diocese of Bilbao, Association against Cancer and the Department of Social Action of Bizkaia.
Over three years, methodologies for care focused on the person and their values will be developed, brief pilot tests of practices with technological support will be carried out, and the HENKO technological system, based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and enabling digital technologies, will be tested and validated.
The dialogue discussed being a community of knowledge and learning that makes it possible to advance comprehensive palliative care in Bizkaia and improve socio-health coordination by sharing analysis from the narratives of the people cared for, professionals, volunteers and family/friends.
The proposal is to create a space for co-creation and pilot it in 3 Etxetic in Bizkaia, following the proposals of the European project HENKO NET, financed with FEDER funds, within the framework of Interreg Sudoe.
It was agreed that the first activity will be to carry out a “Patient Journey” in September, for which interviews and focus groups will be held. Create a space for dialogue between all the agents called and work on identifying the knots and gaps in the life paths of people with palliative care needs, from a perspective focused on the person and their community. It was also proposed to learn about existing good practices in Bizkaia.
As always, the best came at the end, when we met with colleagues from other entities with whom we shared cases and situations. Informal greetings and conversations extended a meeting full of desire to work together.