Is your institution ready to be certified in the management of Psoriatic Disease?

PANLAR, through the REAL-PANLAR group, opens the call for health institutions in Latin America to apply for certification as Centers of Excellence in Psoriatic Disease (PsD). This certification recognizes centers that provide specialized, interdisciplinary care with high standards of quality in the treatment of this disease.

Types and requirements for Centers of Excellence in Psoriatic Disease

Two types of Centers of Excellence (CoE) were defined: Optimal and Model.

•    Optimal CoEs require a multidisciplinary team including rheumatologists, dermatologists, nurses, and psychologists.
•    Model CoEs expand this team to incorporate gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, physiatrists, among other specialists.

Structural criteria emphasized infrastructure and electronic systems for data management.

Process criteria included patient-centered education, multidisciplinary consultations, and psychosocial support.

Outcome criteria focused on standardized clinimetric tools (e.g., PASI, DAPSA) and the treat-to-target (T2T) strategy.

The “Optimal” CoE is designed around a core multidisciplinary team composed of a rheumatologist, dermatologist, nursing staff, and psychological services. This team operates through agile care pathways ensuring efficient access and coordination with other specialties involved in PsD management. Its main responsibilities include:

•    Conducting comprehensive clinical and functional evaluations at admission and follow-ups.
•    Assessing disease activity, functional capacity, and psychological well-being, including screening for affective and anxiety symptoms.
•    Implementing educational and preventive programs, both individual and group-based.
•    Coordinating consultations with other clinical specialties.
•    Offering pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments.
•    Assessing physical condition through qualified staff (e.g., physiatrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists).
•    Developing pharmacovigilance and monitoring treatment adherence with the support of pharmaceutical professionals.
•    Training general practitioners and specialists in PsD management within the CoE framework.

The “Model” CoE builds on the structure of the Optimal CoE, incorporating all its personnel, activities, and functions, while expanding to include additional specialties essential to the management of PsD domains, related conditions, and comorbidities. The minimum required team includes physiatrists, gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, orthopedists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and pharmaceutical professionals.

Structure

Structural requirements emphasize complete multidisciplinary teams and robust infrastructure. The Optimal CoE requires a core team of rheumatologists, dermatologists, nurses, and psychologists, while the Model CoE broadens this to include physiatrists, gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists.

Infrastructure must ensure adequate facilities, equipment, and resources, such as access to phototherapy services. In addition, it is essential to have a standardized electronic information system that guarantees data traceability, outcome monitoring, and continuous quality improvement.

Process

The CoE care model prioritizes a holistic, multidisciplinary approach covering all PsD domains: skin and joint involvement, comorbidities, and psychosocial impacts.

Evidence-based clinical pathways ensure consistent, high-quality care, with key components such as:Evidence-based clinical pathways ensure consistent, high-quality care, with key components such as:

•    Patient-centered education
•    Risk management
•    Early diagnosis and timely referral mechanisms

Accessibility is enhanced through preferential circuits for multidisciplinary consultations, including parallel or joint dermatology and rheumatology consultations. Nursing and psychological care are integral, focusing on mental health, treatment adherence, and patient satisfaction.

Outcomes

Outcome criteria focus on rigorous monitoring of disease activity using standardized clinimetric tools, such as:

•    PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index)
•    DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index)
•    DAPSA (Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis)

The Treat-to-Target (T2T) strategy is recommended to establish personalized therapeutic goals that prioritize strict disease control and quality-of-life improvement.

Timeliness of care is also prioritized, with defined metrics for referral, diagnosis, and treatment initiation.

Continuous improvement is ensured through multidisciplinary committees and real-time monitoring of care processes.

In addition, CoEs are expected to contribute to knowledge generation and dissemination through research and publications, strengthening PsD management.

These outcome criteria achieved approval levels of up to 100%, underscoring their importance in achieving superior patient outcomes.

Download the key documents to begin the process here: