SPX International Colloquium 2024: a global success in shaping the future of Patient Experience
Barcelona, Spain – The 5th SPX International Colloquium, held from October 8-10, 2024, in Barcelona, successfully brought together 209 healthcare professionals from 12 countries to explore and advance the future of Patient Experience. Organised by the not-for-profit organisation Shared Patient Experience (SPX), the event, themed Together, towards a global and collaborative Patient Experience, set a new standard for international collaboration and innovation in healthcare.
A global gathering of thought leaders and innovators
The colloquium saw a diverse assembly of patients and professionals across the healthcare spectrum, united in their commitment to enhancing patient care worldwide. Multilingual sessions in English, French, and Spanish ensured inclusivity, fostering rich discussions and knowledge-sharing.
The dynamic three-day programme included plenary sessions, communication sessions, workshops, hospitals visits, and panels, addressing vital topics such as support process design, shared clinical decision-making, and the integration of technology in patient care.
Highlights from keynote speakers and expert panels
The colloquium officially opened at the World Trade Center Auditorium on October 9 with remarks by Mrs. So Yung Straga, President of Shared Patient Experience, and Mrs. Gloria Gálvez, Catalonia’s Secretariat of Health Care and Participation, who emphasized the region’s commitment to patient-centered care through innovation and collaboration.
This was followed by a keynote presentation from Göran Henriks, Chief Executive of Learning and Innovation at Qulturum in Sweden. His talk, titled “When Lived Experience Becomes a Drive for Transformation: From Standardization to Co-design,” stressed the need to integrate patients’ lived experiences into the healthcare system, moving beyond traditional standardization to co-creating healthcare solutions that truly meet patients’ needs.
The second day of the colloquium, on October 10, opened with an insightful session titled “How Is the Patient Experience Evolving Around Us?” Moderated by Daniel Ritter (Better World, France), this session featured healthcare leaders from across Europe who shared their perspectives on the development of patient experience in their respective countries. The panel included Rui Patricio (University of Aveiro, Portugal), Sandrine Jonniaux (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Switzerland), Lesley Goodburn (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, UK), and Anne de Jesus (Institut Gustave Roussy, France). This session provided a comprehensive look at how different healthcare systems are responding to challenges and opportunities in patient experience, emphasizing a shared commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation.
Throughout the rest of October 9 and 10, four major plenary sessions explored key themes in patient experience, featuring insights from international experts:
- The Patient Experience across the global healthcare ecosystem: Moderated by Patricia Ripoll, this session featured Guilhem Biancarelli (RESAH, France), Francisco de Paula Rodríguez Perera (Medtronic, Spain), Anna Hellmer (Falck, Sweden), and Raquel Navarro (Roche, Spain), discussing the importance of collaboration across the entire healthcare spectrum.
- Putting the Patient Experience into practice: a catalyst for innovation: Led by Enric Canet (Patient Expert, Spain), speakers including Martin Cremers (Zuyderland Medisch Centrum, Netherlands), Corinne Grenier (Kedge Business School, France), and Mark Duman (MD Healthcare, UK) explored how understanding patient needs drives healthcare innovation.
- Managing change towards the new Patient Experience Culture: This session, moderated by Cristina Montané (Patient Expert, Consell Consultiu de Pacients), focused on adapting healthcare professionals’ behaviors to align with evolving patient experience values. Speakers included Joan Vinyets (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Spain), Jean-Guillaume Marquis (CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, Canada) and Eduard Portella (International Health Expert and SPX co-founder).
- Patient Experience deployment and results measurement: Moderated by Rui Patricio (IADE, Lisbon), this session featured Montse Ferrer (Hospital del Mar, Spain), Sabina De Rosis (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy), and Nelly Van Uden (Santeon, Netherlands), discussing how patient experience initiatives can be measured to ensure tangible improvements in healthcare systems.
13 Communication sessions: sharing best practices and innovations
In addition to the plenary sessions, the colloquium featured 13 communication sessions held over the two days, allowing healthcare professionals to exchange projects, insights, and best practices on various aspects of patient experience. Topics included patient experience and cultural change, infrastructure for patient experience, patient experience measurement, and the challenges of implementing patient experience strategies in multisite institutions and many others. These sessions provided a platform for in-depth discussions and highlighted successful approaches being implemented across different healthcare settings.
Pre-Colloquium activities in partner hospitals: an immersive learning experience
On October 8, participants had the opportunity to engage in pre-colloquium activities at three renowned partner hospitals: Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Hospital del Mar, and Hospital de Sant Joan de Déu. Attendees interacted directly with patients and healthcare professionals involved in patient experience initiatives, gaining firsthand insights into the hospitals’ innovative programs aimed at improving patient care. These activities provided a real-world perspective on integrating patient experience into daily operations and enriched the overall colloquium experience.
An international platform for collaboration
The colloquium offered extensive networking opportunities, cementing its role as a global hub for collaboration in patient care. Participants also enjoyed pre-event activities at the UNESCO-classified Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site (“Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau”), blending Barcelona’s rich cultural heritage with cutting-edge healthcare discussions.
Looking forward
The SPX 2024 International Colloquium was an unequivocal success and reaffirmed the significance of patient experience as a driving force for enhancing healthcare services. The organisers extend their warm thanks to all the participants, speakers, and partners for their valuable contributions to this exceptional event, and in particular the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, the Hospital del Mar, the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
Shared Patient Experience also works throughout the year to promote the improvement of patient experience among institutions and healthcare professionals through various initiatives:
- The SPX European Awards (call for projects open until 15 December 2024) to reward the best projects set up by committed professionals.
- The SPX online trainings to help professionals take action.
- The SPX Talks to discover and discuss the challenges of the patient experience with guest speakers.
