Two Osakidetza (Basque Public Health Service) organisations have been granted international recognition as centres of excellence in healthcare

• OSI Bilbao-Basurto and Gorliz Hospital have been designated as BPSO centres, recognised as "centres committed to excellence in care.”
• This initiative seeks to achieve excellence in care by emphasising the value of evidence-based practices, the positive impact of care on health outcomes, and the crucial role of nursing leadership.

At this morning's BPSO Euskadi conference, the new designations as BPSO centres, or "centres committed to excellence in care", were announced. Two Osakidetza organisations have obtained these designations: the OSI Bilbao-Basurto and Gorliz Hospital.

To attain this distinction, both organisations have dedicated three years to the development and implementation of their respective best practice guidelines. To achieve this objective, the team of leaders and promoters has been instrumental. This dedicated group was created by this initiative to promote each of the guides. Their efforts have been vital in achieving the established commitments. Without their work, it would not have been possible to achieve certification as committed centres.

For OSI Bilbao-Basurto, this initiative has been developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing (FME) at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU). Together, the institutions have implemented three best practice guidelines: "Vascular Access," "Breastfeeding," and "Gender-based Violence.” Over the past three years, significant progress has been made toward achieving the set objectives. This includes training over 300 promoters in best practice implementation methodology, integrating the programme across the organization, incorporating it into the Nursing degree at the FME of the UPV/EHU, and in various teaching units, such as the teaching units of: Family and Community Care; Mental Health; Occupational Health; Paediatrics and Midwifery; drawing up protocols or promoting lines of research related to the guidelines, among others.

In turn, Gorliz Hospital has implemented the "Vascular Access," "Person- and Family-Centred Care," and "Palliative Approach to Care in the Last 12 Months of Life" guidelines over the past three years. The implementation of these guidelines has resulted in a transformation of the hospital, bringing about significant changes in clinical, organisational, and cultural practices. This has helped motivate and reinforce its mission to provide the best evidence-based care to patients and families. In addition, it has identified leaders and talents that have contributed to this transformation, enabling significant advances in key areas such as patient safety, humanisation of care and professional development. This hospital now seeks to combine sustainability with a commitment to embedding the project in the organisation as part of its culture.

A total of eight Osakidetza organisations have been accredited under this standard. OSI Bilbao-Basurto and Gorliz Hospital have been recognised for their commitment to good practice, joining the organisations that have received this recognition in previous editions: OSI Ezkerraldea-Enkarterri-Cruces, OSI Donostialdea, OSI Debabarrena, OSI Goierri Alto Urola, OSI Araba, and the Bizkaia Mental Health Network. These organisations have successfully maintained their status by upholding high standards of practice. In addition, it is important to note that two other organisations, OSI Barakaldo-Sestao and Santa Marina Hospital, have begun their candidacy this year.

BPSO Programme

The Centres Committed to Excellence in Care Programme, internationally recognised as Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO), is driven by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO).

This international programme seeks to achieve excellence in care by emphasising the value of evidence-based practices, the positive impact of care on health outcomes, and the crucial role of nursing leadership for improved services.

Currently, the participation of these Osakidetza organisations in this programme has resulted in the implementation of best practice guidelines that address, in addition to those mentioned, issues such as fall and pain prevention, childhood obesity, palliative care, and person-centred care. These are all challenges that impact people's quality of life, where the involvement of nursing staff plays a crucial role.