title: [Rapid diagnosis units or immediate health care clinics in internal medicine. Analysis of the first six months of operation in Palencia (Spain)].
abstract: The extraordinary development experienced by Primary Care and medical specialties has not always been matched by better organisation of the health system. Waiting lists, the proportion of inappropriate stays and admissions, or absence of real mechanisms that enable to discriminate the severe cases from the banal in patients on the waiting list are situations that illustrate the above. Thus, the need arises to promote continuity of care between the two levels of care (Primary and Hospital) and improve patient care, most especially for those suspected of serious illness. In this context, Rapid Diagnostic Units were introduced; designed to improve coordination with Primary Care, and reduce delays especially in severe cases. In this paper, we review these units, and present our experience during the first six months of operation.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franco Hidalgo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prieto de Paula
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Martín Serradilla
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martín Carbayo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists