[Evaluation of the utility and efficacy of a day hospital in a gastroenterology department].
Because public health funds are limited, full advantage should be taken of the resources available. Consequently, hospital stay should be reduced with no loss of health care quality. In our Gastroenterology Department, investigations or treatment requiring a short hospital stay are carried out in a day hospital. Between March 1998 and March 2000, 2,169 patients were treated: 1,862 outpatients and 307 patients referred from another hospital. A total of 95.2% of the outpatients were discharged. Hospital stay was prolonged in 4.8% (91/1,862): 13 due to incomplete investigations, 29 because of worsening of their underlying disease before the procedure and 49 due to complications. The overall complication rate was 2.8% (62/2,169). Six complications developed after discharge; of these two appeared within 24 hours. After the opening of the day hospital, the mean hospital stay in the Gastroenterology Department was reduced from 9.05 days to 6.07 days (p = 0.001). In conclusion, the use of a day hospital in a gastroenterology department is useful, effective, safe and profitable.
Torras Colell
X
X
Servicio de Patología Digestiva. Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Barcelona. csarog@meditex.es
Cussó Fresquet
X
X
Gallego Moya
A
A
Gómez Oliva
C
C
Soriano Pastor
G
G
Villanueva Sánchez
C
C
Sáinz Sáenz-Torre
S
S
González Juan
D
D
Guarner Aguilar
C
C
Farré Viladrich
A
A
Pujol Pi
J
J
Balanzó Tintoré
J
J
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology