La Maruca Health Center tests AI for appointment management

The La Maruca Health Center in Santander, Cantabria, has begun testing ‘LOLA’, an artificial intelligence conversational assistant designed to automate the requesting, modifying, and canceling of primary care appointments.

The technological upgrade is part of a 1.43 million euro renovation project focused on energy efficiency and infrastructure improvements. Funding for the works includes 808,121 euros from the Government of Cantabria and 622,173 euros from European NextGenerationEU funds. The renovation includes a ventilated facade, improved window systems, and new electrocardiograph technology that integrates directly with the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital's imaging system.

The inauguration has drawn political criticism from the PSOE, which argued that the regional government failed to acknowledge the role of Spanish national government funding and European Union resources in completing the project.