title: [Impact of the incorporation of a nurse in an inflammatory bowel disease unit].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multidisciplinary units are needed because of the growing complexity and volume of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the healthcare, economic and research impact of incorporating a nurse into the IBD unit of the Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively recorded the activity carried out by the nurse of the IBD unit from March 2010 to December 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During this period, healthcare demand progressively increased, with 1,558 patients being attended by our unit. The healthcare provided by the nurse included 5,293 electronic mails and 678 telephone calls. We estimated that this activity represented a saving of 3,504 in-person medical consultations and 852 accident and emergency department visits. Other activities consisted of monitoring treatments with biological and non-biological agents (8,371 laboratory tests), extraction of 342 blood samples, follow-up of 1047 diagnostic tests and consultations with other medical specialties, health education in self-administration of drugs in 114 patients, the performance of 158 granulocyte apheresis procedures, and participation in 25 research projects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incorporation of a specialised nurse in an IBD unit had major economic, healthcare and research benefits.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Yago
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: González-Lama
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blázquez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matallana
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Revilla
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, España. Electronic address: luis.abreu@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abreu
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D034742:Electronic Mail; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D009726:Nurses; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D017216:Telemedicine
keywords: Asistencia telemática; Colitis ulcerosa; Consulta; Consultations; Crohn's disease; Enfermedad de Crohn; Enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal; Enfermería; Inflammatory bowel disease; Nursing; Telehealth; Ulcerative colitis