[The impact of a better coordination between emergency and intensive care units in the care of critically ill patients].
The need for critical care services is increasing in Chile. Critical care beds and specialists in this area are scarce. In this article we discuss some aspects that hamper the care of critically ill patients from their arrival to the emergency department to their transfer to the ICU. Special emphasis is given to system saturation and its multiple causes. The benefits of an integrative approach between emergency medicine and critical care specialists are highlighted and some solutions are proposed to strengthen this partnership.
Sección de Medicina de Urgencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Bárbara A
BA
Lara
Departamento de Ingeniería Industrial y de Sistemas, Facultad de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Alejandro
A
Cataldo
Departamento de Medicina Intensiva, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Ricardo
R
Castro
Sección de Medicina de Urgencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Pablo R
PR
Aguilera
Departamento de Medicina Intensiva, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Carolina
C
Ruiz
Departamento de Medicina Intensiva, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Max
M
Andresen
D002677:Chile; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data