[Selected acute admission to a medical department].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to describe the pattern of admissions to a medical department and to analyse whether acute admissions can be referred to hospitals with limited access to acute medical and surgical assistance and limited access to intensive care.


METHODS
All acute admissions to the medical department during a three-week period were registered. The medical officer in charge of the distribution of patients filled in a questionnaire at the time of telephone contact with the referring physician concerning the feasibility of referral to a medical department with limited access to acute assistance.


RESULTS
Out of 113 patients judged suitable for referral to a hospital with limited access to acute assistance, 60% had or developed conditions judged to require hospitals with a specialised level of acute services.


CONCLUSIONS
Contact with a medical officer by telephone seems to be an unsuitable way of selecting which patients do not need highly specialized medical assistance, surgical assistance or intensive care.
Teglbjaerg
Lars Larsen Stubbe
LL
OUH Svendborg Sygehus, Medicinsk Afdeling M, Svendborg. stubbe@dadlnet.dk
D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone