SPX Awards Ceremony 2026: Does AI improve the Patient Experience?
Organised for the sixth consecutive year by Shared Patient Experience, the SPX Awards 2026 once again highlighted impactful and inspiring patient experience initiatives worldwide. The ceremony, held at Hôpital Foch in Paris, brought together healthcare professionals, patient representatives, and experts to explore the impact of AI on patient experience before revealing this year’s winning initiatives.
The 2026 edition reinforced the importance of collaboration across borders and disciplines. Through initiatives such as the SPX Hub, the association continues to build a living library of best practices, enabling healthcare organisations to learn from one another and replicate successful models internationally.
Celebrating initiatives that put the patient first
The SPX Awards continue to recognise projects that significantly enhance the patient experience across healthcare systems. As in previous years, entries were open to both public and private organisations and structured around three core categories:
- Taking into account patient experience in the communication process
- Patient experience as a driver of innovation
- Improving the patient experience in an emergency situation
The 2026 winners
Innovation category: Lusíadas Saúde (Portugal) was awarded the prize for HUG Lusíadas Home Care: An Integrated Hospital-to-Home Care Ecosystem, a project that stood out for its seamless approach to continuity of care, creating a structured pathway that ensures patients experience a smooth and supported transition from hospital to home.
Communication category: Fundació Assistencial Mútua de Terrassa (Spain) received the award for Key Words at Key Moments: A Practical Guide for Empathetic and Effective Communication Between Healthcare Professionals and Patients. This initiative was recognised for strengthening the human connection in care through practical tools that enhance clarity, empathy, and trust between patients and professionals.
Emergency category: Groupe Santé CHC (Belgium) was awarded the prize for Margot, a Virtual Assistant in the Emergency Department at CHC MontLégia Clinic. Margot illustrates how digital tools can humanise emergency care by guiding patients, reducing uncertainty, and improving communication in high-stress environments.
Public Vote Award: Innovation Guided by Patient Experience, an initiative of Clinique Charcot (France), was selected directly by the public during the public vote phase. This project reflects the growing role of patients and citizens in shaping healthcare innovation and recognising what truly matters in their care journeys.
An academic event exploring: does AI improve the Patient Experience?
The ceremony was preceded by an academic session that brought together healthcare professionals, experts, and patients to explore the central question: “Does AI improve the patient experience?”
Key moments included:
- A presentation about “Promises and constraints of AI in healthcare: putting the patient at the centre” by Dr Gaëtan Letesson, Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Hôpital de la Citadelle
- A panel discussion gathering Ms Line Farah (public health advisor), Dr Bertrand Lapergue (Head of the Neurology Department at Hôpital Foch), Dr Jean-Louis Fraysse (co-founder of BOTdesign), and Dr Gaëtan Letesson, moderated by Dr Céline Orhond, medical expert in patient pathways and experience
A rigorous, international process
The selection process lasted six months, with an international call for projects that attracted entries from 8 countries: France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Monaco, Switzerland, Croatia, and Canada. 10 finalist projects were selected after rigorous evaluation by an independent international jury.
Nominated by category:
- Taking into account patient experience in the communication process: Fundació Assistencial Mútua de Terrassa (Spain), Groupe Santé CHC (Belgium), Clinique Charcot (France), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (Spain)
- Patient experience as a driver of innovation: Lusíadas Saúde (Portugal), Centre Oscar Lambret (France), Fondation Saint-Hélier (France), IGET – Institute for Gastroenterological Tumors (Croatia)
- Improving the patient experience in an emergency situation: Cornwall Community Hospital (Canada), Groupe Santé CHC (Belgium)
The finalist projects were then put to the public vote and assessed by four independent professional juries.
Composition of the juries
The nomination of the 12 selected projects and the final decision on the winning projects in each category were made by independent professional juries.
Initial Jury for the selection of nominees
- Rui Patricio, SDI. Lab IADE University (Portugal)
- Nathalie Bass-Hagenmuller, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris (France)
- Alain Akiki, Hôpital Riviera-Chablais (Switzerland)
- Karine Barelle, Alliance Pep Santé (France)
Final jury for the ‘Emergencies’ category
- Dimitri Kohler, Centre Hospitalier Bienne (Switzerland)
- Anna Sant, Fundació Assistencial Mútua de Terrassa (Spain)
- Véronique Vande Gucht, Clinique Saint-Jean (Belgium)
Final jury in the ‘Communication’ category
- Jean-Guillaume Marquis, CIUSS de l’Estrie-CHUS (Canada)
- Grégory Dereppe, Centre Hospitalier Neurologique William Lenox (Belgium)
- Bertrand Marcorelles (France)
Final Jury for the ‘Innovation’ category
- Anne-Sophie Gresle, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (Spain)
- Julie Valette, Hôpital Paris Saint-Joseph & Hôpital Marie-Lannelongue (France)
- Edgar Peters, Fédération de l’Aide et des Soins à Domicile (Belgium)
This sixth edition of the SPX Awards would not have been possible without the support of Hôpital Foch and the commitment of all participants, partners, and members of the judging panels.
Save the date: next year, the community will gather on April 15 in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 7th SPX Awards Ceremony at IMAD. Stay tuned for more information on the SPX Awards 2027!
