[Interdisciplinary use of a Day Surgery unit].
BACKGROUND
A Day Surgery unit can be defined as a service dedicated to those patients which are not eligible for a simple ambulatory treatment, though requiring a short hospital stay for less than 12 hours. The Italian regulation for Day Surgery has been developed in the last 80's. Three models have been defined: 1) Autonomous unit; 2) Mono o multidisciplinary units: 3) Dedicated beds. Admission criteria are clinical data, age, familial support.


METHODS
The Tor Vergata University Hospital has an autonomous multidisciplinary Day Surgery unit, opened on November 22, 2002. Cost and clinical data are independently calculated and stored, allowing as to evaluate the activity of the first 14 months of its life (Nov 02-Dec 03).


RESULTS
5288 patients have been treated, with a preliminary access for lab and clinical evaluation, a surgical procedure and postoperative controls. The Author have calculate that treating as in patients would have needed a dept of 40 beds.


CONCLUSIONS
DS offers both 1) economics, and 2) social advantages: 1) lower cost for patients admission. highes. Rate of turn-over, reduction of human resources (no overnight cost), finally, rational use of the NHS funds. 2) Prompt and better response to pts needs and requests; more hospital beds dedicated to emergency and severe cases; reduction of cost for pts and relative quicker return to work; favourable psychological approach for the pts.
Coscarella
Giorgio
G
Cattedra di Chirurgia Generale, Universita Tor Vergata di Roma.
Di Lorenzo
Nicola
N
Rossi
Piero
P
De Majo
Adriano
A
Manzelli
Antonio
A
Gacek
Iwona Anna
IA
Gaspari
Achille L
AL
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy