[Adjusted Clinical Groups Method (ACG) to allocate resources according to the disease burden of each health center].
BACKGROUND
Health care must be provided with strong primary health care models, emphasizing prevention and a continued, integrated and interdisciplinary care. Tools should be used to allow a better planning and more efficient use of resources.


OBJECTIVE
To assess risk adjustment methodologies, such as the Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) developed by The Johns Hopkins University, to allow the identification of chronic condition patterns and allocate resources accordingly.


METHODS
We report the results obtained applying the ACG methodology in primary care systems of 22 counties for three chronic diseases, namely Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and Heart Failure.


RESULTS
The outcomes show a great variability in the prevalence of these conditions in the different health centers. There is also a great diversity in the use of resources for a given condition in the different health care centers.


CONCLUSIONS
This methodology should contribute to a better distribution of health care resources, which should be based on the disease burden of each health care center.
Emilio
E
Santelices C
Fernando
F
Muñoz P
Patricio
P
Muñiz
José
J
Rojas
D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006766:Hospitals, County / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D020379:Risk Adjustment / Q000379:methods*