Hospital Quiron

What services does it provide?

The IOB covers all specialties, but particularly patients with any type of cancer or suspected cancer: according to one of the most famous oncologists in the world, the Quirón’s oncology service is an “authentic talent bank”. And this extends to the patients that need highly complex neurosurgery, orthopedics and minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery: the hospital boasts specialists who are well-known authorities in their field in Europe.

Why?

• The cream of the crop

The hospital has garnered worldwide acclaim for its effective organization, interdisciplinary committees, and outstanding quality indicators in results that factor in the complexity of the procedures performed. But what truly makes Quirón a powerhouse is its unique ability to assemble the best team of professionals. The names of many physicians who work here–some presidents of European and international associations in their specialty–are synonymous with the best of the best, Europe’s cream of the crop.

A few examples: the hospital’s surgery department is led by Dr. Antonio de Lacy one of the world’s most renowned surgeons, a pioneer in minimally invasive techniques that were so forward-thinking they required the development of prototypes of the most advanced equipment worldwide. One of the world’s leading authorities in colon, rectum, esophagus and bariatric surgery (surgery for morbid obesity), Dr. De Lacy has performed over 15,000 operations over the past 25 years using the most advanced techniques and with outstanding results. Many of his operations are milestones in modern surgery: the first transvaginal removal of part of the large intestine using the NOTES surgical technique for colorectal cancer, the first in Europe to perform SILS surgery for obesity via a transumbilical incision, the first to perform a transvaginal removal of a gastric tumor using the NOTES surgical technique in Europe and the second in the world; he was the first surgeon in the world to perform a transanal removal of a rectal mass using a new technique called TaTME, which is today the de facto standard treatment for colon or colorectal cancer. The result of all these complicated-sounding techniques are real changes in the prognosis of patients with extremely serious diseases, faster recovery, and a drastic reduction in pain, bleeding and complications.

Dr. Lacy is also the founder of AIS Channel, the world’s top online surgical training experience with over 50,000 member doctors from 165 countries, a project sponsored by Sony, Olympus, Hospital Clinic and the University of Barcelona (UB).

The hospital’s neurosurgeon staff includes a distinguished group of all-star professionals: Dr. Enrique Ferrer, Vice-President of the World Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery Society, performed the world’s first remote-control-guided neurosurgery operation. Dr. Gerardo Conesa was responsible for setting up Spain’s first program for localizing brain function and intraoperative mapping of cortical functions, and what has become the foremost training center for many neurosurgeons from all over the world. He is a pioneer in introducing virtual reality to the neurosurgery operating room and introducing the transcranial magnetic stimulation system.  And Dr. Pablo Clavel, a recognized expert in spine surgery, is one of the world’s most experienced specialists in using the ADR technique in spine surgery (disc replacements, for example).

Yet another one of the best of the best is Dr. Ramon Cugat, head of the hospital’s Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology and expert in knee injuries. His patients include the presidents of several countries and elite athletes, especially the stars of the best clubs of Europe, from Barça to Manchester United, Bayern, Chelsea, Juventus and many more.

And the list goes on. But now it’s time to turn our attention to a department staffed entirely by internationally renowned professionals: the Oncology Service at Hospital Quirón Barcelona.

• Top cancer center

Quirón’s oncology department, the Oncological Institute IOB, is an independent institution with an excellent international reputation.

The institute was founded by Dr. José Baselga, awarded by the European Society for Medical Oncology for his contribution to advances in the treatment of cancer; the IOB in Barcelona is directed by Dr. Josep Tabernero, President of the European Society for Medical Oncology, perhaps the world’s leading authority in gastrointestinal cancer.

The IOB boasts an all-star team of European oncologists who are pioneers in developing major clinical trials in Europe, professionals who take a holistic approach to cancer treatment and both develop and use the most cutting-edge treatments in oncology. This world-class medical service is paired with facilities that have been thoughtfully equipped with everything someone battling cancer might need (ongoing psychological support, aesthetic reconstruction, etc.). IOB’s patient-focused approach means that doctors never look at their computers when talking with patients and always maintain eye contact. The center’s outstanding results are at the forefront where excellent scientific and clinical expertise meets the friendly care of the medical team

• Excellent organization

The hospital’s excellent organization and management can be summed up in a few figures: 16,000 surgeries are performed annually at Quirón, an even more impressive figure at a hospital that treats the most difficult cancer cases with just 190 beds; the average stay is less than four days; and the emergency department treats 83,000 patients annually. A highly developed out-patient surgery (one-day surgery) service boasts more than remarkable patient safety and satisfaction indices.

As a university hospital of excellence, Quirón has over 25 medical and care boards that ensure quality care, patient safety and performance analysis by specialty and issue, a model most often found in highly-complex public hospitals.

All this with excellent Risk-Adjusted Mortality Index (RAMI) and Risk-Adjusted Complications Index (RACI) indicators, evidence of Quirón’s organizational excellence.

The Hospital has managed to become the top institution in hospitals of its size (TOP 20 Spain award). Private general hospitals must provide patients with a high level of competition while delivering added benefits in terms of comfort and care: the fact that occupancy at the hospital averages around 95% tells us these goals are being met.

For foreign patients

The hospital treats a large number of foreign patients from different countries, including a number of well-known politicians, artists, and Nobel laureates. The thoughtfully designed hospital provides separate stairs and hallways that ensure the strictest privacy when required. The center can also provide assistance in English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Arabic

A bit of history

Quirón–named for the mythological centaur/healer Chiron (Quirón in Spanish)–is a private general hospital with a reputation as one of Catalonia and Spain’s leading institutions. Opened in Barcelona in 1944, the hospital has consistently been sought out by both specialists and distinguished patients who place their trust in Quirón, from Salvador Dalí to Montserrat Caballé. The hospital’s 16-floor new building opened its doors in 2007, marking a new era that places not only staff but also the organizational processes and the design of the new building itself–functional and comfortable – at the service of patients. Today, the hospital receives a large number of patients from all over the world and at the same time remains a well-trusted center of excellence for most of Catalonia.