GRACE contributes to the 4th Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation Symposium at Hospital Clínico San Cecilio
It was a pleasure to participate in the fourth edition of the Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation Symposium organised by Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio in Granada, Spain.
It was a pleasure to take part in the 4th edition of the Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation Symposium, organised by the Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio in Granada, Spain, held last week — a key partner in the GRACE project, leading the Use Case focused on improving Atrial Fibrillation management through innovation.
The session in which GRACE participated centred on new models of care, one of the project’s core ambitions in the cardiovascular field. In this context, the clinical leaders of the Arrhythmia Unit — who are implementing the pilot at this hospital — represented the consortium: Dr. José Miguel Lozano, moderating the session, and Dr. Ana Delia Ruiz, presenting the work currently underway.
Dr. Ruiz outlined the objective of the pilot: improving the management of Atrial Fibrillation, one of the most prevalent cardiac conditions, for which current diagnostic tools remain insufficient — with more than 25% of cases detected only after complications arise.
To address this challenge, GRACE is deploying a digital monitoring and follow-up strategy enabled by wearable sensors and digital health tools provided by Samsung Electronics UK and Medtronic as consortium partners. The aim is clear: to create positive clinical impact through earlier detection and improved clinical outcomes, while also reducing complications and strengthening treatment adherence. Ultimately, this approach will help make the care journey more manageable and patient centred.
The clinical team also highlighted the importance of multisector partnerships in advancing patient care. These collaborations allow clinicians to stay updated, address emerging challenges, and move towards more sustainable, efficient, and value-driven care models that benefit both professionals and patients.
We look forward to participating in future editions and sharing the clinical outcomes of the intervention.
The event also featured a live, real-time connection with the operating room in Granada, where an AF ablation procedure was underway. The Spanish clinical team received remote support via videoconference from a specialist at the prestigious Karolinska Hospital, who provided direct guidance throughout the intervention. In addition, the procedure was performed using an advanced navigation system — an innovation that significantly enhances the visualisation of arrhythmogenic areas and supports a more accurate and effective ablation of all regions involved.
This was followed by a remarkable roundtable with representatives from Spain’s leading neurology and cardiology societies, who shared their perspectives on how the healthcare system should evolve to ensure that innovation truly reaches everyday clinical practice — without losing the human dimension of the professional–patient relationship. They also underscored the fundamental role of prevention, not only in adulthood but also from early life stages, as a pathway towards building a healthier population.
The overarching message was clear: multidisciplinary approaches and collaboration among stakeholders are essential to driving progress.
The day concluded with an inspiring talk on digital transformation, focusing on deep learning and artificial intelligence and the significant leap witnessed over the past year — technologies that are enabling better data processing, pattern identification, and advances towards predictive medicine that support early detection, personalised treatments, and more secure decision-making.
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