Son Llàtzer is a general hospital located in Son Ferriol, on the outskirts of Palma de Mallorca. A newly built facility, it was opened in December 2001 and is integrated into IB Salut, the Balearic healthcare net. The public hospital has beds for just under 500 patients which are looked after by more than 1,200 employees including 200 physicians and specialists, covering for a population of approximately 250,000 people. Palma is also home to Son Dureta, the Hospital General de Mallorca and Sant Joan de Déu, as well as a number of private hospitals. Sadly, Euroclinic Son Verí was closed a few years ago.

The hospital in Son Ferriol is considered to be one of the most modern hospitals in Spain in terms of technology. It was created with a highly advanced technological platform and with an idea of using new technologies to the benefit of patients and professionals. All data and images (digital radiology, endoscopic images, digital ECGs) are stored in a unique electronic patient record (EPR), and all professionals and patients are involved in the computerised system.

Of course, there is a new hospital being built right now in Palma to replace the ageing Son Dureta, called Son Espases, amidst a barrage of controversy. Construction of this hospital with more than 1,000 beds will be finished in late 2010, all going well, meaning that the new General Hospital may be opened in 2011. Son Llàtzer may then be pushed into second place with regard to modern technology; who knows?

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: October 27th, 2009. The time was 15:28:33.