title: The day hospital: analysis of results, costs and management of pneumology resources.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Day hospital units specialized in pulmonology are a relatively new instrument for providing care to complex respiratory patients. However, the number of studies focused on the efficacy and efficiency of day hospitals is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of implementing a specialized respiratory day hospital in a standard teaching hospital with 500 beds.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis of efficacy, efficiency and quality care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Throughout the study period (2 years) the day hospital progressively increased its activity. Although patient pressure on the emergency department remained constant, this was associated with a parallel increase in the overall medical activity of the Pulmonology Department and a reduction in the number of discharges from the hospital. There was a reduction in the number of admissions, and consequently in the need for beds in the Pulmonology Department. The complexity of the hospitalized patients increased, although the efficiency (standard functioning ratio) and quality (readmissions and mortality) of patient care remained stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Day hospital pulmonology units are a useful tool in the management of respiratory patient care. They reduce the need for hospitalizations, while maintaining healthcare quality and complementing other care management instruments.
authors.affiliation: Servei d'Epidemiologia i Avaluació, Hospital del Mar - IMIM, Parc de Salut Mar, CIBERESP, ISC III, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cots
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raventòs
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ausín
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiarello
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balcells
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Castells
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gea
mesh_terms: D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D000078329:Workforce