The public University Hospital José Germain of the Community of Madrid celebrates its 175th anniversary this year. What began in 1851 as the Casa de Dementes de Santa Isabel has transformed into a center specializing in Mental Health where the patient is a key player in their recovery process.
On the eve of World Mental Health Day, the Deputy Minister of Health, Laura Gutiérrez, visited the facilities. "Today we celebrate 175 years of history and commitment to the care of people with mental health problems. Also of learning, evolution, and commitment to the dignity of people and, above all, to those who have made this journey possible," she stated.
Among its innovations are the Sensory Modulation Rooms. These therapeutic spaces are designed to facilitate emotional regulation and patient well-being, using resources for visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive, and olfactory stimulation, including adjustable lighting, image projection, music, and aromatherapy.
The use of these rooms is integrated into a personalized care model based on the Individualized Sensory Profile, incorporated into the clinical history. This approach identifies the most effective preferences, needs, and regulation strategies for each person, ensuring tailored and agreed-upon interventions between the patient and professionals.
The center has more than 530 multidisciplinary professionals, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nursing staff, occupational therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists, among other healthcare and support disciplines. These teams enable comprehensive patient care throughout all life stages, in outpatient, hospitalization, and day hospital settings.
In its teaching capacity, the hospital trains 22 residents in psychiatry, clinical psychology, and mental health nursing. Furthermore, it maintains 27 active research projects focused on outcome evaluation, recovery, and advanced care.
This hospital, part of the Madrileño Health Service (SERMAS), has achieved 400 points in its first evaluation for the EFQM European Quality Seal (European Foundation for Quality Management), recognizing the institution's and its professionals' commitment to constant patient-oriented treatment focused on recovery.
