- Funding Programme
- Year
- 2022
Standardisation and incorporation of telemedicine solutions in Spain (Castilla y León)
The European Commission supported the Regional Health Management Service and Regional Health Authorities of Castilla y León in assessing the maturity of telemedicine solutions, with a particular focus on telepresence, and in preparing the conditions for wider deployment. It delivered an analysis of healthcare professionals’ digital skills, telepresence protocols and implementation guidance, a change management and communication strategy, training materials and itineraries, and a pilot training roll-out. The project aimed to strengthen the use of telepresence in healthcare practice, improve professionals’ preparedness, and support more accessible and coordinated care across the region.
Context
The project was developed in the context of the digital transformation of the health system in Castilla y León, where telehealth and digital tools are increasingly important to improve accessibility, optimise resources and strengthen collaboration across levels of care. Castilla y León faces particular challenges linked to geographical dispersion, low population density in some areas, rural access difficulties and the need to improve continuity of care for patients who may have mobility limitations or limited access to hospital services.
The project built on the recognition that telepresence was already in use but remained insufficiently adopted, requiring a more structured approach to regulation, protocols, communication, training and change management. It also drew on analysis of the regulatory framework at European, national and regional level, as well as comparison with other European countries, to identify good practices and avoid “reinventing the wheel” when extending telemedicine solutions.
Support Delivered
The project delivered five main strands of support. First, it assessed the digital skills of healthcare professionals through a survey sent to all 25,297 professionals in Castilla y León, complemented by focus groups, workshops, a review of existing training offers and a field visit to map current telepresence processes.
Second, it reviewed the regulatory and legal framework for telepresence at European, state and regional level, analysed legislative maturity and good practices in six European countries, and developed protocols, use cases, a traceability matrix, a checklist and implementation guidance, including examples for chronic kidney disease and paediatric emergency triage.
Third, it designed a change management and communication strategy based on organisational alignment, directed communication and specialised training, with segmented actions for patients, families, healthcare professionals and management staff, alongside KPIs and risk mitigation measures.
Fourth, it developed training materials and itineraries, including presentations, videos, exams, handouts and a knowledge assessment tool, and delivered “training of trainers” for 51 professionals from the 11 health areas, followed by supervised local training sessions.
Fifth, it implemented a pilot training roll-out in Valladolid West Health Area and Hospital Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles in Ávila to test a scalable cascade training model for telepresence.
Result achieved
The project has supported the wider and more standardised use of telepresence across Castilla y León by strengthening the methodological, regulatory, strategic and training foundations for deployment. In the longer term, it should improve professionals’ digital preparedness, facilitate the integration of telepresence into routine care, and promote more equitable access to healthcare, especially for patients in rural or hard-to-reach areas.
The project also aimed to strengthen continuity of care, foster collaboration between primary care and hospital professionals, reduce unnecessary travel for patients, and support a sustainable cultural shift towards the effective use of digital health solutions. The roadmap produced for Castilla y León further supports continuation of the training plan, communication actions, expansion of protocols, generation of knowledge and future technology review.
More about the project
You can read the documents related to the project here: