by S0p0rt3 | Feb 21, 2023 | Ribera |
- Alberto de Rosa, president of the health group, attends the ceremony to mark the completion of the works together with the CEO of Dhaman Hospitals Company, Thamer Arab, the Spanish ambassador to Kuwait and several senior members of the Kuwaiti government.
- Spanish ambassador Miguel Aguilar highlights the Ribera Group’s contribution to the project: “it has the will and capacity to strengthen cooperation in the field of health, and is working with the Kuwaiti side to explore new opportunities and inject new impetus into cooperation between the two countries”.
Dhaman and Ribera inaugurate the second public-private partnership hospital in Kuwait, which completes the network initially planned to provide healthcare to more than two million citizens in this country.
The president of the Ribera health group, Alberto de Rosa, attended this week the inauguration and completion of the works of this new health centre in the region of Jahra which, in its 82,000 square metres, has 330 beds, 14 operating theatres, 21 intensive care units for adults and newborns, 75 consultations for the main specialities, a central pharmacy that operates with an automated system, Radiology, laboratory and an emergency unit with heliport. It will begin to see patients in the second quarter of the year.
Alberto de Rosa was very proud of the work carried out by the Ribera team in Kuwait and also highlighted the importance of this project, which consolidates Ribera’s presence in the Middle East and boosts its strategic consultancy area to implement its responsible health model. “We have more than 25 years of experience in the integrated management of hospitals and primary care centres, with a technological base and a capitative financing model, in which Ribera is a pioneer,” explained De Rosa. And in this way, he adds, “we help the different administrations in the sustainability of health systems, thanks to public-private collaboration”. In fact, Ribera’s experience and leadership in this field was one of the aspects highlighted at the inauguration of the Jahra hospital by the CEO of Dhaman Hospitals Company, promoter of the project and Ribera’s partner in Kuwait, as well as by the various representatives of the Kuwaiti government who attended the event and the Spanish ambassador to Kuwait, Miguel Aguilar. The CEO of Dhaman, Thamer Arab, assured that “in cooperation with a world expert in the management of a health system of this size, the Spanish corporation Ribera”, their intention is to develop “a new and advanced model in health care” with many advantages, among which he highlighted that “it will reduce the pressure on the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health and this will be reflected in the quality of health services offered to Kuwaiti citizens”.
Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) official Khaled Al-Hassoun congratulated Dhaman and its partner Ribera for completing construction work on the hospital, which he described as “one of the projects in the state’s development plan”. “This project is vital as it will contribute to achieving a quantum leap in the healthcare sector,” he assured, while announcing that “we are counting on them to contribute to alleviating the financial burdens, related to healthcare in the state budget, especially in overcoming the challenges currently facing the sector.”
In a similar vein, Faleh Al-Dosari of Kuwait’s Supreme Council for Planning and Development stressed that Dhaman is one of the strategic projects in the state’s development plan and Kuwait Vision 2035. “An effective and sustainable health system is the cornerstone of progress in all fields. It is managed through the mechanism, planning and implementation of the private sector, in partnership with the government sector, which supports the achievement of goals in line with health trends in the world,” he said.
For his part, the Spanish ambassador to Kuwait, Miguel Aguilar, expressed his admiration for the health model in this country and his government’s desire to “make a qualitative leap in the health sector in the State of Kuwait, with this model that is being applied for the first time in collaboration with the Spanish international operator Ribera”. He added: “The Spanish side has the will and the capacity to strengthen cooperation in the field of health, and is working with the Kuwaiti side to explore new opportunities and give new impetus to cooperation between the two countries.
by S0p0rt3 | Feb 7, 2023 | Ribera |
- The central laboratory of the Ribera Group’s analysis division acquires new technology for integral biological diagnosis, which will allow it to carry out more than 1,000 determinations a day as of this January.
- The number of professionals has increased by 25% in the last year in order to respond efficiently and quickly to the needs of the Vinalopó Hospital and the health centres.
Ribera Lab, the laboratory division of the Ribera healthcare group, has taken over from this January all the analytical tests of the Vinalopó Health Department, i.e. all those carried out on patients at the Vinalopó University Hospital and all the Primary Care centres in the area. The analysis and management of all the blood, urine and biological fluid analyses of Vinalopó has meant tripling the activity of the central laboratory of Ribera, located in Torrellano (Elche).
Shortly before taking on this volume of work, Ribera Lab completed the installation of new technology, which now allows it to carry out more than 1,000 determinations a day, with the capacity to increase it as required. Of particular note is the new automation system known as ATELICA, with the capacity to analyse 800 tubes per hour.
Ribera Lab, which is already integrated in most of the hospitals of the healthcare group, has prepared to take over the management of the laboratory in the Vinalopó area. In addition to the new machines that have been installed during the last quarter of 2022, the laboratory division has increased the number of professionals at its Torrellano centre by 25%, in order to “respond efficiently and quickly to the needs of patients throughout the health department,” says its director, Mayte Alarcón.
The laboratory division of the Ribera Healthcare Group has a constitutional, prenatal and onco-haematological cytogenetics laboratory, a molecular biopathology laboratory for hereditary diseases, infections and onco-haematological diseases, in addition to the central clinical laboratory.
by S0p0rt3 | Feb 7, 2023 | Ribera |
- “Ritmos de Vida” is endorsed by the professionals of the group’s Heart Department and features musicians, some of whom are healthcare professionals, who have recorded compositions to the “rhythm” of this unique metronome, made by Ribera from the heartbeat of Adrián, a patient with cardiovascular disease.
- The initiative was presented today at the University Hospital of Torrejón with two round tables to talk to specialists about heart care at all stages of life and the health benefits of music.
The Ribera healthcare group today presented the “Rhythms of Life” campaign, in which health and music go hand in hand to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors, with a singular and unique element: the first ever arrhythmic metronome.
Ribera has promoted the construction of a very special metronome, which swings to the “rhythm” of a sick heart, specifically the heart of Adrián, a patient with arrhythmia, and which is the focus of all the initiatives linked to this health awareness and education action: a travelling exhibition of the unique metronome, which will tour all the group’s hospitals; musical compositions recorded to the rhythm of the heart, awareness days with patients and healthy advice on how to look after the heart, among others.
Ribera has worked on this initiative with Maart Agency, responsible for the creative idea, and with Estudio Espadaysantacruz, manufacturer of the personalised arrhythmic metronome. The core of the campaign is that both the heartbeat and the “tempo” of compositions in music are measured in the same way, in beats per minute (BPM). That is why this “special” metronome has been produced: it is the means by which musicians measure the tempo.
This afternoon, the University Hospital of Torrejón hosted the launch of “Rhythms of Life”, endorsed by the professionals of the Heart Area of the healthcare group, and also by prestigious national and international cardiologists, who took part in the event, which was also attended by representatives of institutions, patient associations and professionals. The presentation began with two round tables to discuss heart care at all stages of life and the health benefits of music, with the participation of several health professionals who are also musicians. The first round table was moderated by the president of New Medical Economics, Dr. José María Martínez, with the participation of Dr. Alfonso Valle, head of the Cardiology Service of the Hospital de Denia; Carlos de Diego, head of the Cardiology Service of the Hospital Universitario del Vinalopó; and Óscar Salvador, cardiologist of the Hospital Universitario de Torrejón. The second round table, moderated by Dr. Vicente Roig, coordinator of the Heart Area of the Ribera Group, began with a talk by Dr. David Alter, senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Science (ICES) in Toronto, Canada, with the participation of Dr. Javier Viñas, cardiologist at the Hospital de Cuenca, and Dr. José Mallent, surgeon specialising in Plastic, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery. All of them are also musicians.
Afterwards, the hall of Torrejón Hospital became a stage for a live musical performance by the vocalist of The Heart Swinger, Dr. Javier Viñas, together with Manuel Murgui, pianist; and Esperanza Fernández de Mesa, Councillor for Health of Torrejón de Ardoz City Council, inaugurated the first of the travelling exhibitions of the metronome in this health centre, accompanied by Alberto de Rosa and Elisa Tarazona, President and CEO of Ribera. The exhibition will tour the rest of the group’s hospitals in the coming months.
A campaign beyond Ribera
The aim of “Ritmos de Vida” is to raise awareness of cardiovascular problems in order to help prevent them. For this reason, the initiatives included in the campaign are open to all health centres, beyond Ribera’s own: the exhibition of the unique metronome will be able to travel to different places, and the web and social networks will share the compositions created by musicians from different backgrounds, to the rhythm of Adrián’s heart.
Cardiovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of death in the world. More than 17 million people die each year from heart disease and it is estimated that by 2030 there will be 23 million. Specifically in Spain, 250 people die every day from heart disease. That is why those in charge of the Heart Area of the Ribera group, the cardiovascular network of inter-hospital collaboration made up of professionals from the Vinalopó and Torrejón university hospitals, the Denia hospital and the Ribera Povisa hospital, consider actions related to prevention, education and health care to be of particular importance in order to tackle the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and detect any anomaly in this organ-system in time. Video “Rhythms of Life”, here.
by S0p0rt3 | Jan 17, 2023 | Ribera |
- The group’s health centres organise Christmas decoration competitions, special menus, workshops with patients, children’s parties and even an intergenerational living nativity scene.
- Its professionals are involved in collecting toys, Christmas entertainment, organising concerts and games for chronically ill and hospitalised patients and participating in corporate volunteering days for charities
The Ribera healthcare group is once again turning its attention to its patients at Christmas, thanks to the involvement and support of its professionals, who organise Christmas decoration competitions, special menus, workshops, children’s parties, art exhibitions, nativity scenes and Christmas trees and even an intergenerational living nativity scene which, in this case, is taking place at the Ribera Povisa hospital (Vigo). In addition, throughout this week and the next two, the classic visits of sportsmen, clowns, firemen, children’s characters, Father Christmas and the Three Wise Men to the paediatric wards will take place in most of the centres, to liven up the stay or the consultations of the little ones. The aim, as part of the humanisation plans of the Ribera hospitals, is to try to make patients live and feel the spirit of Christmas, even when they go for a consultation at this time of year, are admitted or spend many hours in the health centre for treatment, such as dialysis or chemotherapy.
Most of these actions are possible thanks to the strong involvement of the group’s professionals in personalised, humanised and quality healthcare, which undoubtedly improves the patient’s experience. In fact, the Christmas decoration competitions between departments of the same hospital aim to give special value to this action that spontaneously arises in each work area. The Vinalopó University Hospital and Denia Hospital have both organised children’s parties, and the latter will also receive a visit from a school in La Xara to sing Christmas carols at the centre.
In addition, this Christmas the Ribera Group has once again made a donation of essential health material and is organising a food collection for the Federation of Ukrainian Associations in Spain and the Spanish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, which helps families from this country displaced by the war, as well as those who remain there. It has also promoted corporate volunteering in many of its work centres, involving professionals in the collection of toys, as in the case of Ribera Juan Cardona with the association Dignidad Galicia, in Ribera Hospital de Molina, with the donation of food for Caritas or the delivery of toys and food by Futurs workers for the Red Cross, as well as in voluntary assistance to the facilities of Casa Caridad in Valencia or Caritas in Elche, to help in the preparation of batches of products for needy families.
The professionals of the Ribera Group also get involved voluntarily in activities and actions to improve the stay of patients at this time of year. For example, at Torrejón Hospital, a craft workshop has been organised to decorate the Christmas tree and a quiz for dialysis patients; a professional at Vinalopó Hospital (Elche) plays the piano at the Day and Dialysis Hospital to brighten up the patients’ stay at the centre, and in Torrejón and Denia micro-concerts have also been organised, while at Ribera Hospital de Molina, Christmas carols are planned.
Finally, several of the Group’s hospitals have also held their respective patient councils at this time to congratulate the patients’ associations on the festive season and the New Year, to take stock of the year and to prepare for the new year, in which involvement and collaboration with these organisations will once again be at a maximum.
by S0p0rt3 | Jan 17, 2023 | Ribera |
- In addition, the healthcare group has launched a Radiology Ring and a Heart Area in 2022 which, together with the Breast Area, confirm the strategy of super-specialisation of its professionals and inter-hospital collaboration to guarantee the best care for patients.
- It maintains its commitment to telemedicine and the application of AI to remote patient care, reinforces its Corporate Social Responsibility policy and resumes after the pandemic the Cervantes Way, workshops, talks and conferences, as well as face-to-face patient counselling, among other activities.
The Ribera healthcare group ended 2022 with 13 hospitals, 64 primary care centres and 35 polyclinics, having added three projects in the past year: the Virgen de la Caridad hospital group in Murcia; the Cascais hospital in Portugal; and participation in the launch of the first public-private management hospitals in the Middle East, specifically in Kuwait.
2022 has been a year of growth, but also of transformation for the Spanish group based in Valencia and present on three continents: Europe, Latin America and Asia. After naturally facing the change of its reference shareholder and sealing its alliance with Vivalto Santé, the third largest private healthcare group in France, Ribera’s trajectory has laid the foundations for the creation last year of the Ribera Foundation, which aims to help improve people’s overall health, wellbeing and quality of life, reinforcing the tools to promote, even more if possible, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. In addition, it has consolidated all its specialised services, specifically the laboratory (Ribera Lab), already integrated in most of its hospitals, dental (Ribera Dent) and aesthetics (Ribera Estética) divisions, both with clinics in Lugo and Molina de Segura (Murcia).
In addition, last year the healthcare group confirmed its commitment to the super-specialisation of areas and professionals and inter-hospital collaboration, and launched its Radiology Ring, with some of the best specialists by organ-system in Spain and from eight of its hospitals, as well as a Heart Area (with professionals from five hospitals), both with procedures and structure similar to those that enabled the organisation of its Breast Area, which is about to celebrate its third anniversary. The growth, improvement and expansion of units and consultations for better patient care are constant in the Group’s different healthcare centres, although the new Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Unit at Ribera Povisa (Vigo), the new Mental Health inpatient ward at Hospital Universitario de Torrejón and the in-hospital Palliative Care Unit at Hospital Universitario del Vinalopó (Elche) stand out for their importance.
Innovation, technology and infrastructures
In 2002, the Ribera healthcare group maintained and extended its collaboration with Lanzadera, Juan Roig’s accelerator, in its firm commitment to co-innovation and teamwork with start-ups in the healthcare sector. All this to gain in agility when it comes to launching applications and platforms aimed, above all, at remote patient care. Telerehabilitation and neurorehabilitation, as well as digital dermatology and Lola, our virtual caregiver, have played a prominent role in the past year. The data centric model and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to telemedicine and its predictive models are, without a doubt, two key axes of the group’s innovation policy in which Ribera’s technology company, Futurs, leads the way, from its IT development, strategic consulting and operations areas. 2022 was the year in which Futurs invested in “virtual biopsy” software for a more accurate diagnosis of breast cancer with AI, among other major milestones. Another highlight was the implementation of the new geolocation and real-time information system at Torrejón University Hospital, MySphera, for relatives of surgical patients and their families, included in the group’s YOSalud portal.
With regard to the new technological equipment incorporated, the mammographs at Denia Hospital and Ribera Polusa Hospital (Lugo), the digital mammograph at Ribera Hospital de Molina, the latest-generation PET-CT scanner at Ribera Povisa Hospital and the neuronavigator for operating on brain tumours at Denia Hospital are particularly noteworthy. Also the new automation system known as ATELICA, from Ribera Lab, with the capacity to analyse 800 tubes per hour. The most outstanding infrastructure work in 2022 was the completion of the renovation work on the new façade of Ribera Povisa, which has recovered the main entrance on Calle Salamanca, with a modern design and without architectural barriers. In addition, this hospital has renovated the first floor and has opened a new Extractions and Ophthalmology area.
Humanisation and “normality” post-Covid
Once most of the waves of Covid infections have stabilised, it has been possible to recover all the workshops, conferences, exhibitions and activities organised for patients in the hospitals, in the healthcare centres themselves or in schools and associations. In addition, patient councils in all hospitals have once again become face-to-face and Ribera Juan Cardona (Ferrol) and Denia hospital have launched this advisory body in 2022, made up of the main patients’ associations, which meets periodically with the management of the respective hospitals. Professionals from the group have taught thousands of children the Ribera song to learn how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Torrejón Hospital has recovered the Camino de Cervantes and the group has published the first children’s story to help children control sugar consumption, especially those suffering from diabetes.
The group’s Humanisation programme has come a long way in 2022. The Hospital Universitario del Vinalopó is now the only health centre in Spain adapted for the hearing impaired; the Hospital de Dénia has launched a Care Plan for patients with severe functional diversity which is already operational in Vinalopó; Ribera Hospital de Molina has implemented the protocol to allow pets to visit patients; and all Ribera hospitals have committed to music therapy with workshops and live performances and the group’s new Spotify channel, with playlists adapted to patients, families and professionals and a health podcast. In addition, corporate volunteering has been boosted and for the first time, in addition to the special actions and collaborations at Christmas and summer, professionals from the group have walked the Camino de Santiago with Discamino.
People Policy
The professionals of the Ribera Group always place the patient at the centre of their activity. For this reason, the group does the same with its professionals and works on a people management policy that attracts and retains talent, vocation and professionalism. Along these lines, Ribera and union representatives from Vinalopó and Denia have agreed to significant improvements in the working conditions of its professionals in 2022 in new collective bargaining agreements. At Ribera Povisa, a “bridging agreement” has been signed with the works council for the next collective bargaining agreement. The commitment to stable employment has been a constant in the year that has ended and hospitals such as Ribera Povisa, Ribera Juan Cardona or Denia, among others, have witnessed dozens of professionals signing permanent contracts and reinforcing their workforces in summer. This policy is undoubtedly what has led Ribera, for yet another year, to be placed among the 50 best companies to work for, according to the Actualidad Económica ranking.
Teaching and research
In 2022, Ribera hospitals have offered a total of 65 MIR and 14 EIR positions in 13 specialties, with a very ambitious and complete training and career plan. In addition, the Vinalopó University Hospital has “graduated” its first class of residents trained in the health department. The year also saw the accreditation of the Cardiology and Radiodiagnosis departments of the Vinalopó University Hospital as Teaching Units to train resident doctors next year, and the group has signed an agreement with the University of Alicante and the UCH- CEU to have Health Science students on work experience in 2023 in the two departments it manages in the Valencian Community.
2022 was another important year in the area of Research. Ribera Povisa was the Spanish hospital that included the most patients in the clinical trial of the Moderna flu vaccine and, through the Hospital de Torrejón, Ribera participated in a European research study on digital dermatology. This same hospital has launched a research study on neuropsychological telerehabilitation for the treatment of chronic migraine and is at the forefront of pregnancy research, with 37 clinical studies underway in the Obstetrics service in key areas such as complications of genetic origin, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and premature birth. For its part, the Dénia Hospital has participated in a study on pocket ultrasound for the detection of cardiac infections and in a European project on pancreatic cancer. And these are just a few examples.
Recognition and quality
The year that has just ended has also been very prolific in terms of public recognition and quality accreditations for services, hospitals and professionals of the Ribera healthcare group. In fact, it has achieved the Joint Commission International Enterprise accreditation, thus joining the exclusive group of healthcare organisations with this prestigious seal of quality. Along these lines, Cardiac Surgery at the Hospital Universitario del Vinalopó was the first service of its kind to achieve Joint Commission International. The Joint certifications already obtained have been renewed, as well as those of carbon footprint in several hospitals, which recognise the commitment to the environment.
In terms of awards, 2022 was a brilliant year for Ribera. It achieved three TOP20 awards for the best overall management for its Torrejón, Vinalopó and Denia hospitals and seven TOP20 awards in different areas of these same hospitals, and Ribera Povisa Hospital repeats yet another year in the ranking of the 50 best private hospitals in Spain, according to the renowned Merco report. In addition, Ribera Hospital de Molina and Denia hospital have obtained the QH quality mark for care processes, and the Futurs technology company has won the 2nd edition of the Isaac Peral National Research, Science and Innovation Awards. Projects such as the “blank campaign” on suicide, the pet companion programme, the virtual carer Lola and the CPR song have received various awards and acknowledgements from organisations and media in the health, communication and marketing sectors.
by S0p0rt3 | Nov 17, 2022 | Ribera |
- The Centro Médico Virgen de la Caridad group includes the hospitals of Cartagena and Caravaca, and a network of more than 30 medical centres and six specialised units.
- Elisa Tarazona, CEO of the Ribera Group, assures that the objective is to continue growing in the Iberian Peninsula and Europe.
The Ribera healthcare group has formalised the acquisition of Grupo Centro Médico Virgen de la Caridad, the largest private healthcare operator in Murcia. This operation is an example of Ribera’s commitment to this region, where it already manages Ribera Hospital de Molina, in Molina de Segura, which covers a catchment area of 140,000 citizens. In Alicante, Ribera also manages the Hospital Universitario del Vinalopó in Elche and the Hospital de Denia, as well as its Primary Care networks.
Founded in 1981 and with a staff of more than 560 professionals, the Centro Médico Virgen de la Caridad group has the Cartagena Hospital, built in 2018, and the Caravaca Hospital, refurbished last year, as well as a network of more than 30 medical centres and six specialised units. The Centro Médico Virgen de la Caridad group is the leader in private healthcare provision in the Region of Murcia in terms of number of centres, as well as being present in all the most populated towns in this autonomous community.
“We are making progress in the consolidation of our responsible health project”.
For Elisa Tarazona, CEO of the Ribera Group, “with this operation we are moving forward in the consolidation of our responsible health project in the Iberian peninsula and in Europe, helping the sustainability of health systems, always committed to excellence, innovation and research, and learning and collaborating with the great professionals we have, and who are the key to the success of our project”.
In addition, as Tarazona explained, “with these centres, we provide assistance to the citizens of Murcia, but also to the residents of the nearby Torrevieja Health Department in everything they may need, as well as to those of the rest of the province of Alicante”.
The consulting firms Deloitte and KPMG have been the advisors of this operation.
About the Ribera Group
Ribera is a business group that has been a provider of public and private healthcare services since 1997, managing hospital projects and specialised care services in Spain, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. It has a University School of Nursing, a purchasing centre, a laboratory division, a technology company and a foundation dedicated to research, training and health promotion. Ribera is a responsible health company, working to improve the health and well-being of citizens. Its social commitment is evident through multiple initiatives that, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, contribute value to current and future society and contribute to the sustainability of healthcare systems.
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