[Patient orientation clinic: an initiative to reduce waiting lists].
OBJECTIVE
The patient orientation clinic (POC), acting as a filter, is an initiative aimed at reducing the waiting lists for medical specialities.


METHODS
For a six-months period, an internist and a registered nurse attended 1,265 patients proposed for those specialties.


RESULTS
85.7% of cases were referred to their general practitioners after evaluation at our clinic. The remaining patients (14.3%) went on and frecuently benefited from initial therapies or because complementary tests and/or examinations were arranged for and earlier date.


CONCLUSIONS
POC is shaping as a promising tool for health resource management in reducing waiting lists in medical specialties.
Sanchís-Bayarri Bernal
V
V
Hospital Francesc de Borja. Gandía. Valencia. Spain.
Rull Segura
S
S
Moral López
L
L
García Ferrer
E
E
Aparisi Romero
J
J
Escandón Alvarez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain; D013038:Specialization; D014850:Waiting Lists