AENOR to certify the best practices of Project HU-CI - humanising healthcare in Intensive Care Units

Among others requirements, ICUs should have open-door policies, favouring contact and participation of family members; foster the patient's overall well-being, and promote staff care. 28 March 2019. AENOR and Project HU-CI have signed an agreement whereby Spain's leading certification body will verify the best practices in terms of humanising Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The HU-CI Project aims to change the management model in care and humanise intensive care for patients, families and Professionals. To obtain this certification, the ICUs must successfully pass AENOR's external audits in accordance with the HU-CI Project's best practices manual, which consists of 159 specific measures. Among others requirements, ICUs must: establish an ICU open-door policy: presence and participation of family members in care, allowing contact with patients and supporting the possible emotional and psychological needs of all of them. Improve communication with the patient, family and healthcare professionals. Ensure the patient's well-being, both physical and psychological, by promoting their autonomy and night rest. Look after staff, creating awareness about professional burnout and other associated factors, and fostering their well-being. Detect, prevent and draw up comprehensive plans for post-intensive care syndrome. Improve end-of-life care by fulfilling the protocols established for this stage. Monitoring physical symptoms; providing company; catering for emotional and spiritual needs and preferences; integrating palliative care, planning and consulting advance directives or multi-disciplinary and shared involvement in deciding on and undertaking measures to limit life-sustaining treatments (LLST). Have a humanised infrastructure, guaranteeing aspects such as the privacy, guidance or comfort of patients, their families and professionals. In addition, ICUs will also promote the entertainment and distraction of the patient, allowing the use of new technologies and facilitating spaces in gardens and patios, guaranteeing appropriate signage and accessibility. ICUs that comply with these best practices and pass AENOR's external verification will obtain this recognition. Over 200 hospital ICUs, both in Spain and in other countries around the world, have undertaken the self-assessment to comply with best practices as an initial step in the certification process.