With a 43% increase in stroke cases over just two years, the program promotes more humane, personalized medicine to address a growing reality

The Son Espases University Hospital has launched the PROM program (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures), a pioneering initiative that transforms healthcare by focusing on the continuous follow-up of patients after hospital discharge. PROMs reflect the future of medicine: a more human-centered, participatory healthcare system that recognizes recovery doesn’t end when the patient leaves the hospital.

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Son Espases Launches the PROM Program to Improve Follow-Up Care for Stroke Patients

“A PROM is a tool that systematically collects a patient’s own perception of their health, treatment, and quality of life,” explained Luis Alegre, Coordinator of Innovation and Projects at Son Espases.
“We can’t discharge a patient and then find them months later suffering from serious complications or emotional issues that no one noticed. The PROM program helps us prevent that. It extends medicine beyond the hospital walls and puts the patient at the center of care.”

Over the past two and a half years, PROMs have been used at Son Espases for 12 medical conditions, covering over 3,700 patients.

Son Espases Launches the PROM Program to Improve Follow-Up Care for Stroke Patients

Currently, the hospital applies PROMs to a range of neurological, oncological, and chronic diseases. The system involves a series of validated questionnaires completed periodically by patients. These help healthcare professionals detect changes in health status, adjust treatments, and offer emotional or functional support when needed.

Dr. Raquel Delgado, a neurologist and promoter of the stroke PROM project, emphasized the importance of applying PROMs to stroke patients:

“Stroke has a significant functional and emotional impact. In the Balearic Islands, stroke cases have increased by more than 40% in the past two years, from 561 confirmed cases in 2021 to nearly 1,000 in 2024. This forces us to improve follow-up and personalize care, which PROMs make possible.”

Maria Planas, a neuropsychologist from Rehacer (the Association for the Rehabilitation of Brain Injury Patients in the Balearic Islands), highlighted the importance of mental health. Funded by La Fundació La Caixa and the 0.7 Program of the Regional Government, she stated:

“Between 30% and 50% of stroke survivors develop depression, and over 50% of these cases go undiagnosed and untreated. This severely affects their quality of life and recovery potential. PROMs allow us to detect and intervene before it’s too late.”

During the launch, two patients shared their experiences with the program, explaining that post-hospital follow-up helped them feel heard, identify emotional challenges, and receive personalized support to aid recovery.

With this initiative, Son Espases takes a major step toward a more human, efficient, and patient-centered model of healthcare.