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Improving Humanized Healthcare for Adult Patients in Primary Care: Insights from Clinical Practice

Ana GARCIA DE FRANCISCO, Esperanza TENREIRO VILLAR, Natalia ESCUARIAZA ISPIZUA, Isabel JIMENO SANZ, Sara GARCÍA DE FRANCISCO, Cristina ANGULO GARCIA, Jorge PABLO ORTEGA, Eva DUFFAUD and Fuencisla ANTON andCHEVERRIA

Humanization in Primary Care is a wholistic and collaborative process in which all members of the multidisciplinary team—physicians, nurses, administrative staff, social workers, and other professionals—contribute to providing care that is proximate, more dignified, and person-centered. This approach recognizes that the quality of care depends on the coordinated interaction of diverse roles and competencies, particularly when addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. Within this framework, the SER+HUMANO (BE MORE HUMAN) strategy was developed to strengthen a culture of humanization through shared responsibility across the entire team.The SER+HUMANO strategy was implemented in a Primary Care center with the goal of highlighting the contribution of all professionals and improving the overall patient experience. The initiative focused on promoting personalized care, enhancing communication and support for vulnerable groups, improving physical spaces to foster citizen well-being, and promoting the emotional and professional health of the team. Additionally, shared leadership and partnerships with local institutions were encouraged. After one year of implementation, adult patient satisfaction increased by 8%, complaints about inadequate treatment were reduced to zero, and perceptions of reception and accompaniment improved significantly, especially among older adults and individuals with communication difficulties. Identified limitations included the need for continuous evaluation and the importance of maintaining institutional commitment to ensure sustainability.This project stands out for embedding humanization as a transversal axis across all professional roles, going beyond the traditional focus on the physician–patient relationship. It introduces a systemic approach in which every interaction—clinical, administrative, or social—contributes to truly person-centered care.Shared responsibility and effective communication among professionals were key to fostering trust, cohesion, and comprehensive responses. Future lines of work include consolidating impact indicators and expanding the model to other health centers.The experience shows that humanizing care does not mean adding tasks, but rather transforming the organizational culture by recognizing the value of each role within an integrated and empathetic approach.Embedding humanization as a structural axis in Primary Care enhances satisfaction, accessibility, and respect in patient relationships, while strengthening teams committed to more inclusive, compassionate, and sustainable care.