[Page 14]

The doctor’s functions include user evaluation, production of reports and personalized treatments, coordination with the multidisciplinary team to monitor the users, and provision of support and information to family members.

Nurse: Has a professional qualification in nursing with specialized training in the care and treatment of the elderly, and at least six months’ experience in the sector. The nurse is responsible, while reporting to the doctor, for the monitoring and care of the elderly, management of medical records, assisting with the care-giving needs of center staff, collaborating with and supporting the multidisciplinary team, controlling departmental supplies and placing orders for drugs and material, and providing guidance and information to relatives.

Physiotherapist: Has a professional qualification in physiotherapy with expertise in geriatrics and neurology. Their objective is the maintenance of users’ physical condition, prevention and treatment of diseases in old age, and also specific programming for pathologies that require more specialized care. He or she is also responsible for the assessment of each patient, prescribing necessary activities according to the results of that assessment, the management, coordination and supervision of all activities (individual and group) undertaken within the department, delivery of personalized treatments under medical supervision, and regular monitoring of the center users.

Occupational Therapist: Has a professional qualification in occupational therapy, with additional training in the sector and at least six months’ professional experience in the care and treatment of the elderly. The occupational therapist works within the multidisciplinary team of the center, enabling and/or rehabilitating the user to integrate/reintegrate into their daily lives, by providing them with all the necessary resources to regain or enhance their abilities. He or she is also responsible for conducting the initial assessment of new users, ongoing user evaluation, and prescription of activities according to the individual user assessment.

Psychologist: Has a professional qualification in psychology, and ideally also has training in neuropsychology, with a minimum of six months’ experience in the care and treatment of the elderly. He or she is responsible for psycho-geriatric assessment, neuropsychological assessment and reporting, neuropsychological rehabilitation (if possible), runs workshops on memory and cognitive stimulation, and provides individual psychological support and treatment and care for relatives.

Nursing Assistant: Has professional nursing qualification “FP II Auxiliar de Enfermería” (or similar, provided it is one of the qualifications approved by the Spanish “Law of Dependency”) and with a minimum of six months’ experience in a similar position. The Nursing Assistant is one of the key roles within Vitalia centers and is responsible for supporting the center users in carrying out those daily activities that they cannot perform alone due to disability or impairment, as well as other tasks of personal attention, in accordance with the relevant performance protocol. Nursing Assistants are the support figures and liaisons between the center professionals and their families.

Transport (drivers): Has a professional driver’s license suitable for the particular vehicle operated by the center, as well as additional training in the care of the elderly and at least three months’ experience in a similar position. Reporting to the director of the center, the drivers are responsible for user transport between homes and the center, assisting with boarding and disembarking where necessary, as well as accompanying users into their homes. In short, a driver’s role is the proper care of the elderly during whatever journeys may be necessary.

Source: Company records.

This online case study is authorized for use only in the HarvardX course "Innovating in Health Care," Spring 2015. Copyright 2015 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the permission of Harvard Business School. This free online content will expire at the conclusion of the course. Course participants may procure PDF versions of this content as well as the entire required and optional reading list by purchasing a coursepack here: https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/pages/content/harvardxbus51x.