Spanish Healthcare Experts Emphasize Human-Centric AI Integration
Healthcare experts in Tenerife recently gathered to discuss integrating artificial intelligence into clinical practice, emphasizing a strategy that balances technological efficiency with the essential human touch in patient care.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept in Spanish healthcare; it has become a central part of the industry's strategy. A recent meeting, organized by the Mémora Foundation and the University Hospital Complex of the Canary Islands (HUC), highlighted the sector's goal of balancing technical efficiency with the essential human touch in patient care.
The conference, held at the University of La Laguna’s Guajara Campus, gathered nearly 150 specialists from Tenerife’s primary and hospital care sectors. Supported by the Nursing Chair of the Official College of Nurses of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the event aimed to create a roadmap for using automation and data analysis to improve clinical practice.
Experts Jaime Del Barrio Seoane and Juan Albino Méndez discussed the practical side of these tools. While Del Barrio focused on personalized medicine and innovation, Méndez shared real-world examples, such as intelligent systems already being used in surgery to improve how medication is administered.
The discussion also addressed the ethics of AI. Representatives from the HUC and the Mémora Foundation agreed that technology should support clinical work rather than replace human judgment. The consensus was that AI should help reduce uncertainty in complex decisions and handle administrative tasks, freeing up healthcare professionals to spend more time with their patients—a core focus of the Mémora Foundation’s work in end-of-life care.
These discussions are particularly important given the scale of the Mémora group, a leader in funeral services across the Iberian Peninsula. Managing over 55,500 services and 33,000 cremations annually, the company is embracing digitalization to modernize operations and meet the growing demand for high-quality care across its 200 funeral homes and 1,600-strong staff. The conference concluded with a clear message: the success of healthcare technology depends on using it responsibly while keeping the patient at the heart of every advancement.