[Analysis of a programme of direct referral between primary and specialist care in potential surgery patients].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the results of a programme of direct referral of potential surgery patients between primary and specialist care, designed to lessen waiting-times.Design. Prospective, longitudinal and descriptive study.


METHODS
Health Area N. masculine 19 (Valencian Health Service): Surgery Service of Elche Hospital and 6 Health Centres.


METHODS
Patients with pathologies that do not need special techniques for diagnosis except examination and who have a clear irrefutable indication of surgery without risk factors (ASA I-II).Intervention. The referral protocol consists of: a) diagnosis of pathology and pre-operative study in primary care (PC); b) appointment made by phone for the surgery clinic at the hospital, where diagnosis and pre-operative study are confirmed; c) referral and operation in the unit of non-hospital major surgery (UCMA); d) monitoring post-operation by the home hospitalisation unit (HHU) or preferably by the health centre, and e) check-up at the surgery clinic. Main measurements. The degree of agreement between PC and the specialist, assessment of the pre-operative study, and waiting time.


RESULTS
86 patients were referred (average age, 35; 76% male) by 28 doctors. The most common pathologies were hernia (36%), pilonidal sinus (23.2%) and miscellaneous (32.5%). There was general agreement in diagnosis in 90.7% of cases. 89.5% of patients brought the proper pre-operative study. Mean waiting time between the primary care consultation in the different procedures and the first hospital consultation was 19 days; with 44 more days elapsing till the surgical operation.


CONCLUSIONS
This new programme is effective and economic, in that there is <<adequate referral>> of patients, waiting time is reduced by over 7 months for pilonidal sinus and by over 2 years for hernia pathology, and the procedure can be used for a large number of patients, as the pathologies involved are very common.
Arroyo
A
A
Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Universitario, Elche. arroyocir@latinmail.com
Andreu
J
J
García
P
P
Jover
S
S
Arroyo
M
M
Fernández
A
A
Costa
D
D
Oliver
I
I
Hernández
H
H
Schwartz
H
H
Reillo
M
M
Calpena
R
R
Arenas
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D013030:Spain; D013038:Specialization; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014850:Waiting Lists
Análisis de un programa de derivación directa entre atención primaria y especializada en pacientes potencialmente quirúrgicos.