[Emergency department observation and short term unit].
BACKGROUND
An emergency department observation and short term unit is analyzed, and the conditions appropriate for it.


METHODS
Four hundred patients admitted consecutively were evaluated. Demographic, and clinical data, complementary tests performed, diagnosis, destination and revisits to the emergency department were analyzed.


RESULTS
The 57% of the patients were over 65 years. Complementary tests were performed in all patients. 42% were discharged home without hospitalization, being syncope, intoxication and epilepsy the most common diagnosis. The 1.8% of the patients no hospitalized revisted to emergency department during the next 72 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Emergency department observation and short term units can reduce hospitalization and health care costs and improve the quality of medical care through extended evaluation and treatment.
Muiño Miguez
A
A
Sección de Medicina de Urgencia, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid.
Gil Gómez
J
J
Gabarró
N
N
Segado Soriano
A
A
López Gonzalez-Cobos
C
C
Villalba García
M V
MV
D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain
Unidad de Observación y Corta Estancia de Medicina en el Servicio de Urgencias.