The new Obispo Polanco University Hospital of Teruel will begin its start-up on September 1 with the opening of the first outpatient clinics. Rehabilitation, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Radiation Oncology will be the four specialties that will debut activity in the new facilities, where it is expected to serve about 260 patients a week during the first weeks.
The opening will be progressive. From September, the staggered transfer of consultations from the current Obispo Polanco Hospital will continue and, between September and December, the incorporation of new specialties such as Traumatology, Dermatology, General Surgery and Internal Medicine is planned.
REHABILITATION, ONE OF THE FIRST AREAS TO BE OPENED
One of the main changes will come with the Rehabilitation service, which will open next to the new therapeutic gym. The space, of about 1,000 square meters, will have independent access from the street and will be adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Around 140 patients will pass through these facilities per week. The service will initially have two medical consultations, a specific one for Occupational Therapy and areas for treatments such as pelvic floor, lymphedema, pressotherapy, magnetotherapy, electrotherapy and paraffin bath.
The gym will also have new equipment, including a ceiling lift for patients with reduced mobility, and will expand the healthcare portfolio with the new Occupational Therapy consultation.
ENDOCRINOLOGY AND RHEUMATOLOGY ARE ALSO MOVING
The Endocrinology consultation plans to attend to about 60 patients per week, while Rheumatology will start with an activity of approximately 30 consultations per week.
During this first phase, all these consultations will be concentrated in the same area of the ground floor of one of the wings of the new hospital, although not all of them will yet occupy their final location. The aim is to facilitate access for patients and workers through a single entrance.
RADIATION ONCOLOGY, A KEY STEP TO AVOID TRIPS TO ZARAGOZA
The activity of Radiation Oncology will also begin progressively. At first, follow-up consultations for patients receiving radiotherapy will be maintained in Teruel in Zaragoza, with between 25 and 30 weekly cares.
Later on, the planning CT scan will be incorporated and, once the linear accelerator has been authorised and put into operation, patients will be able to complete all the radiotherapy treatment in Teruel. This will make it possible to avoid travel to Zaragoza and respond to one of the main health demands of the province.
The start of these consultations is the first step in an opening that will continue over the coming months with the progressive transfer of the rest of the services. The new Obispo Polanco University Hospital will cover a reference population of about 80,000 people in the province of Teruel and will have more modern and accessible facilities.
