[A new model for medical care to multi-admitted patients].
OBJECTIVE
Patients with chronic conditions are often readmitted to hospital. A study was designed to improve health care to these patients.


METHODS
Patients attended at the Internal Medicine Department of a hospital area who were admitted to hospital at least three times in a year were included in the study. Within a prospective study, patients were attended by means of specific consultation with care upon request and telephone care, with the possibility of programmed admission.


RESULTS
Patients were followed for 32 months, with a 45% decrease in the admission rate, 50% in visits to the Emergency Department, and 26% in hospital stay days.


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed care model decrease the attending needs for these patients.
Gamboa Antiñolo
F
F
Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital El Tomillar. Area Hospitalaria de Valme. Dos Hermanas. Sevilla. Spain. minfga@valme.sas.junta-andalucia.es
Gómez Camacho
E
E
De Villar Conde
E
E
Vega Sánchez
J
J
Mayoral Martín
L
L
López Alonso
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain