Fajardo-Ortiz G, Ramírez-Fernández FA

Language: Spanish
References: 5
Page: 164-168
PDF size: 144.68 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the absolute ciphers of true and not-true emergencies. Materials and methods: The investigation was descriptive, observational, and retrospective. The 1996 Emergency Service records at the ISSSTEP Hospital de Especialidades were reviewed. The study population was made up of all users of ISSSTEP. Hospital de Especialidades Emergency Services older than 14 years. A true emergency was defined as medical attention provided in the Emergency Service after which the user, due to medical indications, was obliged to remain at the hospital. Results: Of 26,005 attentions provided, 9,333 were graded as true emergencies (35.88%). The absolute numeric distribution of the total of attentions provided by work shift was as follows: morning shift 7,505 (28.86%); afternoon shift 7,393 (28.43%); right shift 3,765 (14.48%), and accumulated shift 7,342 (28.83%). By work shift, the number and percentage of true emergencies were as follows: morning 3,140 (33 .64%); afternoon 2,569 (27.53%); night 1,924 (20.61%), and accumulated 1,700 (18.22%). The months with the lowest number of attentions and emergencies were April, July, and August. Of the 9,333 cases graded as true emergencies, 115 (1.23%) persons were terned extreme gravity, terminal phase. Ninety users (0.96%) were admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 822 (8.80%) users were treated surgically and 4,059 (43.49%) of the users were admitted to the hospital. For each attention evaluated as a true emergency, 1.78 attentions were evaluated as a not-true emergency. It is concluded that a little more than one-third of the attentions provided at the emergency service were classified as true emergencies. In other words, for each true emergency, 1.78 were classified as not-true emergencies. This shows the need for considering other institutional strategies for improving the efficiency and quality of emergency services.

REFERENCES

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