Un estudio sobre la atención de urgencia en un Hospital semi-urbano (Talagante)

Abstract

A total of 1.552 cases looked after by the Emergence Service of a semi-urban hospital (Talagante) during the months of May and August, 1982, was registered. The results show a high rate of pediatric consultations (47,8%); a utilization of the Service by legal beneficiaries of 62.2%; and by people without any social security, 27.7%. Consultants of age (more than 45 years) showing a degree of illiteracy reach 22%. The antecedent of having been compelled to apply to Urgency Service due to rejection of assistance in a first-aid polyclinic is feeble (1.6%). On the contrary, 50.7% have already attended to the Service previously during the last year. The most frequent causes are of respiratory origin, followed by infectious diseases and accidents or violences. With regard to the inmediate destination of these consultants, scarcely a 6.1% required hospitalization or derivation toward a more complex center, a decision being analyzed considering causes and place of destination. In conclusion, there exists in the public an excessive utilization of the Service and it is fully justified the use of human and material recourses oriented to the solution of pediatric urgencies and that transfer of patients are usually justified with the exception, generally, of those having suffered of traumatisms.