We are a pioneering medical center, established in 1987, specializing in Down syndrome.
Service technical sheet
Brief definition
We are a public health service specialized in the care of people with Down syndrome.
We provide diagnosis, follow-up, and guidance at all stages of life, with an adapted preventive program and a multidisciplinary medical team. We provide genetic counseling and coordinate with hospitals, primary care physicians, and social services to offer comprehensive care.
Visits are mainly in person and take place at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. We also provide telephone follow-up when needed. The frequency depends on each person’s care plan.
Our goal is to ensure the comprehensive health of people with Down syndrome.
Service in numbers
3.344 annual visits
29 specialised professionals
95% satisfaction according to families
Three distinguishing features
1. We are the only health centre in Catalonia specialised in Down syndrome with a comprehensive approach.
2. We have an expert medical and psychoeducational team that works in coordination with the public healthcare system.
3. We coordinate with schools and other services of the Foundation to provide comprehensive and personalised care.
Main programmes
Preventive Health Plan
We provide annual follow-up for children and adults with Down syndrome.
The team is composed of professionals from the following fields:
🔹 Nursing
🔹 Pediatrics and pediatric neurology
🔹 Internal medicine and community medicine
🔹 Psychology and neuropsychology
🔹 Neurology
🔹 Dentistry
🔹 Ophthalmology
🔹 Dermatology
🔹 Social work
When the general practitioner considers it necessary, the hospital offers other medical specialties that complement the CMBD team.
Alzheimer–Down Unit (UAD)
We provide specialized care for adults with Down syndrome. We also conduct research on Alzheimer’s disease.
Workshops for caregivers.
We provide spaces to learn and share experiences related to Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving.
Frequently asked questions
🔹 Is a medical referral required?
No. You can book an appointment directly.
🔹 What age groups does the service cover?
We support people of all ages.
🔹 Do I have to pay for the service?
No. The service is free if you have Down syndrome and a Catalan health card.
🔹 Where are appointments held?
Mainly at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. We will inform you of the location when booking.
🔹 Do you support people without Down syndrome?
No, but we can refer you to other services.
Partnerships and recognitions
We maintain a stable collaboration and have an agreement with the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.
We also collaborate with:
🔹 Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
🔹 Hospital del Mar
🔹 Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
🔹 Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
🔹 Bellvitge University Hospital
We participate in the clinical committee of the Trisomy 21 Research Society (T21RS).
1998: we published the first growth charts specifically for Spanish children with DS.
2010: the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) incorporates the growth charts into the electronic health record and the Primary Care Professionals’ Workstation.
2010: we received the Reina Sofía Award for disability prevention.
2017: we received the Alzheimer Award in the Social Category from the Spanish Society of Neurology.
2019: we received the Best in Class Award in the category Best Humanization Project.
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