The mental health centre of the public network in Madrid has implemented a plan with four levels of action to prevent complications from extreme heat in patients with cognitive impairment, reduced mobility, or severe mental disorders.
The Doctor Rodríguez Lafora University Hospital, a specialised mental health centre in the Community of Madrid, has approved a pioneering protocol to protect its most vulnerable patients from heatwaves. The initiative, which establishes preventive measures and procedures for action during episodes of extreme temperatures, responds to the particular sensitivity of the centre's patients, whose cognitive impairment, functional dependence, or psychopharmacological treatments hinder the regulation of body temperature.
The protocol expressly identifies patients at greater risk: individuals with cognitive impairment, functional dependence, or reduced mobility; those with comorbidities such as heart disease, COPD, diabetes, or kidney disease; those over 65 years old or with severe mental disorders; and those exhibiting disorganized behaviour or limited awareness of their illness, which may prevent them from perceiving or communicating alarm symptoms.
Based on this, the new plan unifies the action criteria of all hospital professionals, allows for the early identification of high-risk patients, and establishes organizational, care, and infrastructure measures to prevent heat-related complications.
Four levels of action based on temperature
The protocol includes four levels of action, which are activated depending on weather conditions, the internal temperature of the hospital, or the presence of incidents related to air conditioning. Each level incorporates specific measures aimed at protecting vulnerable patients, other patients, and professionals.
Among the planned actions are the reinforcement of hydration, clinical monitoring of the most vulnerable patients, adaptation of care activities, the establishment of cool areas, continuous monitoring of ambient temperature, and, in more complex scenarios, the activation of the Hospital Contingency Plan and the reorganization of care resources.
The plan also includes an evaluation system based on structure indicators (maintenance and supplies), process indicators (assessed by the supervisors of each unit), and outcome indicators (reviewed by management), in order to analyze compliance and detect opportunities for improvement for future summer periods.
With this initiative, the Doctor Rodríguez Lafora University Hospital, a specialised mental health centre in the public health network of the Community of Madrid, reinforces its commitment to clinical safety and quality of care, equipping itself with a tool to provide a coordinated response tailored to the needs of its patients during episodes of extreme heat.
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