[One-stop outpatient cardiology clinics: 10 years' experience].
A one-stop outpatient cardiology clinic was set up at the Vic General Hospital in Spain in 1996. The aims were to provide patients with a rapid response, and to ensure that, on the same day, they saw a specialist and were referred for any relevant investigations required, primarily echocardiography, exercise testing, and Holter monitoring. We report experience from 10 years of follow-up, involving 19,515 consultations. The mean waiting time for a consultation was 3 days. We analyzed the reasons for the consultations, the investigations carried out, and the reductions in follow-up visits and hospital admissions. Primary care physicians' level of satisfaction was increased by this approach. The one-stop clinic proved feasible in clinical practice and proved robust during the follow-up period. This clinical model was beneficial for patients, was highly acceptable to primary care physicians, reduced the need for patients to contact the hospital, and, possibly, reduced hospital admissions.
Falces
Carlos
C
Unidad de Cardiología, Hospital General de Vic, Vic, Barcelona, España. 25364cfs@comb.es
Sadurní
Josep
J
Monell
Joan
J
Andrea
Rut
R
Ylla
Miquel
M
Moleiro
Angels
A
Cantillo
Jordi
J
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002309:Cardiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors