Chronic diseases: 2010–2011 progress of the unit for chronic patients and evidence-based medicine of Donostia Hospital

Description:
Donostia hospital has a catchment population of 700,000 covering the province of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain). In 2009, the management of chronic patients was identified as a strategic area for the hospital, a specific structure being established in 2011 for the study of chronicity and improvement in its management: the unit for chronic and convalescent patients and evidence-based medicine (EBM). The core of the care provided in this unit has a common element: the management of processes based on EBM.

How to cite:

Artetxe J, Aranegi K, Huertas MI,  Emparanza J, Dorronsoro I, Suquía E. Chronic diseases: 2010–2011 progress of the unit for chronic patients and evidence-based medicine of Donostia Hospital. International Journal of Integrated Care. 2012; 12 (Spanish Chronic Care Conference Supplement 2011). Available at: http://www.ijic.org/index.php/ijic/article/viewArticle/865/1558

Since 2005, Donostia Hospital has being carrying out studies to identify patients with a history of multiple admissions, together with small-scale interventions (monitoring of heart failure and COPD). This approach has been found to be effective in decreasing the number of hospital bed days and attendances to the Emergency Department, while the efficiency of telemedicine has not yet been established. The following step to be considered was the extension of these interventions to the general population.

The objectives set for 2010 were: to establish a large-scale intervention for people with history of multiple admissions; to set up an intervention involving nursing homes for the elderly in Gipuzkoa; to ensure continuous contact with primary care; and to progressively involve users and caregivers in the management and monitoring of user’s medical conditions.

Owner: