title: [Analysis and classification of hospital emergencies through Ambulatory Patient Groups].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and results of application of Ambulatory Patient Groups (APG) patient's classification system to the case-mix of patients seen at the Emergency Departments (ED) of 6 Barcelona metropolitan area hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Development of a minimum discharge data set specific for the Emergency Departments (CMBDAU). Gathering of relevant variables from a random sample of patients seen at the ED using the ED discharge reports. Use of the APG classification system to those episodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 11.188 episodes were codified and grouped with the APG system. Fifteen diagnostics identified 25% of all episodes. Nearly 50% of all procedures performed at the ED were common and simple procedures. Fifteen APG's grouped 50% of all cases seen at the ED.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ED Uniform Discharge Data Set (CMBDAU) developed is a valid instrument for describing the case-mix seen at the ED, and its grouping by means of the APG system provides consistent and meaningful results. The widespread use of systems like APG in the ED requires a former validation of relative weights assigned in the US system. The availability of human and technical resources must also be assessed, in order to guarantee the quality and sustainability of such a system.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínic. Barcelona. Spain. aconesa@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conesa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vilardell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Casanellas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gelabert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trilla
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Asenjo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000145:classification*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain