The use of hospital-based services by heart failure patients in the last year of life: a discussion paper.

Individuals with chronic heart failure have high utilisation of hospital-related services towards the end of life and receive treatments that provide symptom relief without improving life expectancy. The aim of this discussion paper is to determine chronic heart failure patients' use of acute hospital-based services in their last year of life and to discuss the potential for palliative care to reduce service utilisation. A systematic search of the literature was conducted. Medline, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) and SCOPUS databases were used to systematically search for literature from database commencement to September 2016. Specific inclusion criteria and search terms were used to identify relevant studies on heart failure patients' use of hospital services in their last year of life. There were 12 studies that evaluated the use of hospital-based services by chronic heart failure patients at the end of life. In all studies, it was found that chronic heart failure patients used acute hospital-based services as death approached. However, only two studies examined if palliative care consultations were obtained by patients, and neither study assessed the impact that these consultations had on service utilisation in the last year of life. Heart failure negatively impacts health status, and this is a predictor of service utilisation. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of both primary and secondary palliative care in reducing resource use towards the end of life and improving the quality of end of life care.

[The analysis of a mobile mental health outreach team activity: from psychiatric emergencies on the street to practice of hospitalization at home for homeless people]. / Analyse de l'activité d'une équipe mobile psychiatrie-précarité (EMPP) : des urgences médicopsychiatriques dans la rue à la pratique d'hospitalisation à domicile pour des personnes sans domicile.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Since their creation in 2005 in France, mobile mental health outreach teams (EMPP) have been working to improve the health of the homeless who, for 30 to 50% of them, present severe mental disorders. Their missions are defined by ministerial circular's specifications. Few studies have been undertaken in France to analyze the practices of these teams' professionals, nor the characteristics of the populations with whom they are involved. The EMPP described in this paper had in 2010 a greater staff than other French EMPPs. It has 15 full-time staff, including four doctors (two psychiatrists, one GP, one house physician), two nurses, two educators, one social worker, three peer-workers, one secretary and two coordinators. The article analyzes the way of support developed within the range of EMPP's missions defined by the ministerial circular. METHODS: Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out using standardized data from four different sources (round sheet, record of activity, record of hospitalization, housing information, interviews conducted by medical and social professionals with patients). Another source of data consists of records describing the operation of the team (reference framework) and annual activities (annual report). RESULTS: The method of care was developed based on a street working, involving a full medical and its relationship with the hospital and a place to live in a semi-community context. The Mobile Mental Health Outreach team documented 318 rounds in 2010, describing 666 contacts among whom 87.9% were followed regularly thereafter. It focuses to a target population. The team actively followed 198 people including 161 for whom a psychiatric diagnosis was done: 48.5% of the patients followed presented schizophrenic-type disorders, 21.8% bipolar disorders and other mood-linked problems, 13% behavioral disorders and 6.2% substance-use disorders. A percentage of 44.9 presented with a physical disease. Among the 89 hospitalizations, 86.5% were motivated by psychiatric disorders and 43% were forced. In about one third of the cases, hospitalizations were motivated by a double indication - psychiatric and physical - and in 13.5% for only a physical indication. Thirty people of the actively followed people had stayed in a halfway house as an alternative to hospitalization, restoring a continuity of care and allowing to resolve social problems that had until then been hopeless. PERSPECTIVES: The strategies developed by this Mobile Health Outreach Team ensure local community medical, psychiatric and social care for "hard to reach" people. The results confirm the interest of the link between the street work, the hospital and the halfway home, both as a living facility and an alternative to hospitalization. They suggest the importance of a critical minimum size for these EMPP that allows them a street work with doctors providing guidance. The presence of a GP is another welcome development because of the severity and the entanglement of somatic and psychiatric problems of these populations.

Efficacy and safety of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy for infective endocarditis: a ten-year prospective study

Background: The length of treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) with parenteral antibiotics varies from2 to 6 weeks. Although several studies indicate that outpatient parenteral antibiotic treatment (OPAT)could be safe for uncomplicated viridans-group streptococci (VGS) IE, the experience in Spain is limited and data on other types of endocarditis and OPAT are scarce worldwide. Methods: Prospective single center study of a cohort including all patients with IE admitted to the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona OPAT program from January 1997 to December 2006.Results: During the study period, 392 consecutive episodes of IE in non-drug abusers were attended to.Of these, 73 episodes (42 native-valve, 23 prosthetic-valve, and 8 pacemaker-lead) were admitted to the OPAT program (19%). The percentage of inclusion was higher for viridans group streptococci (VGS) or Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) IE (32% of all VGS or S. bovis IE episodes diagnosed vs. 14% of the remainingetiologies, P<.001). Twelve patients (16%) were readmitted due to complications, of which 3 died (4%).Glycopeptides use was the only predictor factor of hospital readmission (OR 4.5, 95% confidence interval1.2; 16.8, P=.026). No differences in OPAT outcome were found between VGS plus S. bovis IE and Staphylococcusaureus (S. aureus) plus coagulase-negative staphylococci IE. Patients spent a median of 17 dayon OPAT (interquartile range 11-26.5), which enabled 1,466 days of hospital stay to be saved. Conclusions: These data suggest that OPAT for IE may be a safe and effective therapeutic approach in the treatment of selected patients with types of endocarditis other than uncomplicated VGS or S. bovisendocarditis, although patients taking glycopeptides need close clinical OPAT monitoring (AU)

Antecedentes: La duración del tratamiento antibiótico endovenoso de la endocarditis infecciosa (EI) oscila entre 2 y 6 semanas. Aunque varios estudios indican que el tratamiento antibiótico a domicilio endovenoso (TADE) es seguro para el tratamiento domiciliario de la EI sobre válvula nativa no complicada por estreptococos del grupo viridans (EGV) la experiencia en España con TADE en la EI es limitada y los datos sobre otros tipos de endocarditis y TADE son escasos en todo el mundo. Métodos Estudio unicéntrico, prospectivo, de una cohorte de todos los pacientes con EI admitidos en el programa TADE en el Hospital Clínico de Barcelona entre enero de 1997 y diciembre de 2006.ResultadosDurante el período de estudio se diagnosticaron 392 episodios consecutivos de EI en pacientes no consumidores de drogas, de los cuales 73 episodios (19%) fueron admitidos en el programa de TADE: 42 EI sobre válvula nativa, 23 EI sobre válvula protésica y 8 EI sobre cable de marcapasos. El porcentaje de inclusión en la TADE fue mayor para la EI por EGV o Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) (32%) que para el resto de etiologías (14%; p < 0,001). Doce pacientes (16%) fueron reingresados debido a las complicaciones de los cuales tres fallecieron (4%). El uso de glucopéptidos fue el único factor predictor de reingreso hospitalario (OR [intervalo de confianza del 95%] 4,5 [1,2; 16,8] p = 0,026). No se observaron diferencias entre las EI por EGV y S. bovis y las EI estafilocócicas (Staphylococcus aureus y estafilococos coagulasa-negativos) incluidas en el TADE. Los pacientes incluidos estuvieron una mediana de 17 días en tratamiento domiciliario (rango intercuartílico de 11 a 26,5), lo que permitió un ahorro de 1.466 días de estancia hospitalaria (..) (AU)

Análisis de la actividad en las unidades móviles de rehabilitación-fisioterapia en atención primaria / Analysis of the activity of mobile rehabilitation-physiotherapy units in primary care

ObjetivoDescribir la atención domiciliaria que ofrecen los equipos móviles de rehabilitación-fisioterapia (EMRF) como respuesta a las necesidades de la población dependiente, las características que tiene su aplicación y las consecuencias que produce sobre el paciente y su independencia funcional.DiseñoEstudio descriptivo transversal desde 2004 hasta junio de 2007.EmplazamientoMedio comunitario. Los EMRF de atención primaria en Almería.ParticipantesEn total 1.093 pacientes incluidos en el programa.Mediciones principalesSe recogió sistemáticamente el estado de salud de los pacientes (proceso discapacitante principal, motivos de inclusión en el tratamiento, valoración funcional inicial y final e índice de Barthel), los datos sobre la atención fisioterapéutica y el n.o de sesiones.ResultadosUn 64,2% de la muestra fueron mujeres; la edad media fue de 78 años. El tiempo medio de espera para su valoración fue de 4 días y hubo una gran diversidad de procesos discapacitantes principales que han quedado descritos. Existió un elevado porcentaje de síntomas de grave deterioro motor, dolor y debilidad muscular. El 88,6% de los pacientes realizó tratamiento fisioterapéutico; el 11,1% de los pacientes fisioterapia y tratamiento ocupacional y el 0,3% de los pacientes tratamiento ortésico. El número medio de sesiones fue de 12,85. Se describe la variación en el índice de Barthel final tras la intervención realizada (cinesiterapia [61,9%]; combinada con electroterapia [10,2%]; cinesiterapia y educación al cuidador [14,5%], etc.).ConclusionesSe aporta información valiosa respecto a las características de la población geriátrica y dependiente así como la ayuda fisioterapéutica que viene recibiendo y cómo se lleva a cabo el proceso(AU)

ObjectiveTo describe the home care provided by mobile rehabilitation-physiotherapy teams as a response to the needs of the dependent population, the characteristics of their application, and the results they have on patients and their functional independence.DesignA descriptive, cross-sectional study from 2004 to June 2007.SettingCommunity setting. Mobile rehabilitation-physiotherapy teams from Primary Care in Almeria.ParticipantsA total of 1093 patients were included in the programme.Main measurementsData were collected on, the state of the patients’ health (primary disabling process, reasons for inclusion in the treatment, initial and final functional assessment and Barthel Index); details of physiotherapy treatment, and number of sessions.ResultsOf the total sample, the mean age was 78 years and 64.2% were female. The mean waiting time for their assessment was 4 days and there was a wide variety of primary disabling processes described. There was a high percentage of symptoms of severe motor deterioration, pain and muscle weakness. Physiotherapy treatment was given in 88.6%, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in 11.1%, and orthopaedic treatment in 0.3%, of the patients. The mean number of sessions was 12.85. The variation in the Barthel Index after the final therapy was given was, 61.9% for kinesiotherapy, 10.2% combined with electrotherapy, and 14.5% for kinesiotherapy and carer education.ConclusionsValuable information is provided as regards the characteristics of the geriatric and dependent population, as well as the physiotherapy help they are receiving, and also how the procedure is carried out(AU)

Hospitalización a domicilio directamente desde urgencias: una opción posible y eficiente / Direct discharge from emergency department to hospitalat home: an efficient option

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Estrategias para mejorar la visibilidad y accesibilidad de los cuidados enfermeros en Atención Primaria de salud / Strategies to improve visibility and accessibility of nursing cares in Primary Health Care

En un ejercicio exento de generosidad se podrían calificar de ineluctables los avances profesionales enfermeros acaecidos en los últimos 20 años, a partir del cambio de rol que supuso la reforma de la Atención Primaria de salud. No obstante, la población sigue identificando a las enfermeras y enfermeros con las actividades delegadas del diagnóstico médico, de forma que el cuidado es poco visible, y por tanto, poco accesible. En este artículo se intentará dilucidar el porqué de esta escasa visibilidad del cuidado (analizando para ello a los principales actores del proceso: los usuarios, los profesionales y la administración), así como esbozar algunas estrategias tendentes a mejorar dicha visibilidad, y por tanto, a que los cuidados sean accesibles a los que los necesitan

In a way that cannot be qualified as generous, we could describe the advances that have occurred in the nursing professional over the last 20 years since the changes brought about by the Primary Health Care Reform as inevitable. However, people still continue to identify nurses with the activities based on the medical diagnosis. Thus, the care is not very clear and therefore not easily accessible. Throughout this article we will try to clarify the reason for the poor visibility of this care (and to do so, we will analyze the main characters of the process: users, professionals and management). We will also try to outline some of the strategies used to improve such visibility, and to make the care accessible to those who need it

La gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea. Realidad en la práctica nutricional clínica intra y extrahospitalaria / Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Reality in the intra- and extra-community clinical nutritional practice

Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido revisar nuestra experiencia durante 8 años de la utilización de la gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea (GEP) y su aplicación en nutrición enteral domiciliaria (NED). Material y métodos. Estudiamos 207 pacientes (56 mujeres y 151 hombres) a los que se le ha realizado GEP desde 1994 al 2002 inclusive, al requerir nutrición enteral de forma prolongada (> 4 semanas). En aquellos casos en los que se programó NED los pacientes/familiares fueron adiestrados en las técnicas y cuidados de la GEP y de la NE, y el control se hizo a través de la consulta externa de Nutrición. Resultados. El tiempo medio de duración de la GEP fue de 640 días y 175 pacientes (84,6%) necesitaron la GEP más de 60 días, mientras que 135 la requirieron más de 6 meses. El aporte calórico medio fue de 1.730 ± 288 Kcal/día; el modo de administración fue mediante infusión intermitente por gravedad en 162 casos y por infusión continua a través de bomba volumétrica en 45 pacientes. En dos pacientes con hiperémesis gravídica se realizó gastroyeyunostomía endoscópica percutánea (GYEP) en el tercer y cuarto mes de embarazo, terminándose con éxito la gestación mediante parto por vía vaginal. La realización de la GEP facilitó el alta hospitalaria y la programación de la NED en 195 pacientes (94%). Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron la infección de la gastrostomía, que ocurrió en 41 pacientes, y la aparición de granuloma en la ostomía en 34 casos. Sólo hubo un paciente que falleció en relación directa con una peritonitis tras la GEP. Conclusión. De nuestro trabajo se infieren las ventajas de la GEP como técnica de nutrición enteral, permitiendo la instauración de un programa de NED con escasa incidencia de complicaciones y muy baja mortalidad

Background. This study aimed to review our experience during 8 years in the use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and its application in home enteral nutrition (HEN). Material. We studied 207 patients (56 women and 151 men) who had undergone a PEG from the beginning of 1994 to the end of 2002 as they needed prolonged enteral nutrition (> 4 weeks). In those cases in which home enteral nutrition was programmed, the patients/relatives were trained in the techniques and care of the PEG and EN, and the control was done through the nutrition out-patient clinic. Results. Mean duration time of the PEG was 640 days and 175 patients (84.6%) needed PEG for more than 60 days and 135 for more than 6 months. Mean calorie supply was 1,730 ± 288 Kcal/day. Administration mode was by intermittent infusion due to seriousness in 162 cases and continuous infusion through volemetric pump in 45 patients. In 2 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy (PEGJ) was done in the 3rd and 4th month of pregnancy, the pregnancy finishing successfully by vaginal delivery. Performance of PEG facilitated hospital discharge and programming of home enteral nutrition in 195 patients (94%). The most frequent complications were gastrostomy infection that occurred in 41 patients and the appearance of granuloma in the ostomy in 34 cases. Only one patient died in direct relationship due to peritonitis after PEG. Conclusion. Our study includes the advantages of PEG as an enteral nutrition technique, permitting the establishment of a home enteral nutrition program with limited incidence of complications and very low mortalityBackground. This study aimed to review our experience during 8 years in the use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and its application in home enteral nutrition (HEN). Material. We studied 207 patients (56 women and 151 men) who had undergone a PEG from the beginning of 1994 to the end of 2002 as they needed prolonged enteral nutrition (> 4 weeks). In those cases in which home enteral nutrition was programmed, the patients/relatives were trained in the techniques and care of the PEG and EN, and the control was done through the nutrition out-patient clinic. Results. Mean duration time of the PEG was 640 days and 175 patients (84.6%) needed PEG for more than 60 days and 135 for more than 6 months. Mean calorie supply was 1,730 ± 288 Kcal/day. Administration mode was by intermittent infusion due to seriousness in 162 cases and continuous infusion through volemetric pump in 45 patients. In 2 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy (PEGJ) was done in the 3rd and 4th month of pregnancy, the pregnancy finishing successfully by vaginal delivery. Performance of PEG facilitated hospital discharge and programming of home enteral nutrition in 195 patients (94%). The most frequent complications were gastrostomy infection that occurred in 41 patients and the appearance of granuloma in the ostomy in 34 cases. Only one patient died in direct relationship due to peritonitis after PEG. Conclusion. Our study includes the advantages of PEG as an enteral nutrition technique, permitting the establishment of a home enteral nutrition program with limited incidence of complications and very low mortalityBackground. This study aimed to review our experience during 8 years in the use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and its application in home enteral nutrition (HEN). Material. We studied 207 patients (56 women and 151 men) who had undergone a PEG from the beginning of 1994 to the end of 2002 as they needed prolonged enteral nutrition (> 4 weeks). In those cases in which home enteral nutrition was programmed, the patients/relatives were trained in the techniques and care of the PEG and EN, and the control was done through the nutrition out-patient clinic. Results. Mean duration time of the PEG was 640 days and 175 patients (84.6%) needed PEG for more than 60 days and 135 for more than 6 months. Mean calorie supply was 1,730 ± 288 Kcal/day. Administration mode was by intermittent infusion due to seriousness in 162 cases and continuous infusion through volemetric pump in 45 patients. In 2 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy (PEGJ) was done in the 3rd and 4th month of pregnancy, the pregnancy finishing successfully by vaginal delivery. Performance of PEG facilitated hospital discharge and programming of home enteral nutrition in 195 patients (94%). The most frequent complications were gastrostomy infection that occurred in 41 patients and the appearance of granuloma in the ostomy in 34 cases. Only one patient died in direct relationship due to peritonitis after PEG. Conclusion. Our study includes the advantages of PEG as an enteral nutrition technique, permitting the establishment of a home enteral nutrition program with limited incidence of complications and very low mortality

Physicians as medical center "extenders" in end-of-life care: physician home visits as the lynch pin in creating an end-of-life care system.

The article reviews a successful community-based end-of-life home care program. Specifically, physician visits were compared in the models of care studied, and it was concluded that the community-based model patients benefited significantly over the standard model of care patients due to the use of physicians.

[The problems with pediatric home care].

It is obvious that we are facing serious problems with development of home medical care for children who have severe physical difficulties. One of the problems is a shortage of pediatricians who have a sufficient and specialized knowledge to take care those patients. In this paper, we report some actual problems with the care of the child suffering from mitochondrial encephalomyopathy at home TPN.

An overview and critique of the experience corps for independent living initiative.

This article presents findings of the evaluation of the Experience Corps for Independent Living (ECIL) initiative. The ECIL initiative was a two-year demonstration program designed to test innovative ways to use the experience, time, and resources of volunteers over 55 to expand significantly the size and scope of volunteer efforts on behalf of independent living services for frail older people and their caregivers in specific communities. Six demonstration projects were selected to participate in this initiative. The intensive volunteers, the critical component of the program, were more highly skilled than typical volunteers from existing senior volunteer programs. ECIL volunteers collaborated with agency partners to develop new programs, supervise direct service activities, and enhance the performance of the agencies being served. Although the projects addressed many of the goals of the initiative, they did not fully accomplish all of their objectives. The ECIL initiative was particularly successful in providing independent living services to frail elders and their families in the communities served. It was less successful in developing and maintaining the team and corps concept, in attracting and retaining the anticipated numbers of volunteers during the study period, and in becoming self-sufficient by the end of Year Three.

Hospital at home services for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a survey of British practice.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence of and attitudes towards hospital at home services for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Great Britain. To identify the models of service in existence, in particular staff numbers and the workload experienced. DESIGN: A postal survey was used to locate existing schemes. Telephone interviews were conducted with each of the hospital at home services identified. SUBJECTS & SETTING: A questionnaire was sent to one consultant in each of 223 respiratory departments in Great Britain. Thirty six departments were subsequently contacted by telephone. OUTCOME MEASURES: Awareness and prevalence of hospital at home services. Perceived problems with starting a service. Details of organisation of existing services. RESULTS: We received 186 replies to the postal questionnaire. Of these respiratory departments, 179 (96%) were aware of hospital at home services for acute exacerbation of COPD and, in November 1999, 30 (16%) were running such a service. Difficulty in obtaining funding was the main reason for not setting up a service rather than lack of evidence of benefit or unsuitability of local circumstances. Median staffing level was two nurses (range one to six) looking after a median number of new patients of five per week (range 0.5 to 12). There was wide variation in the organisation of services. CONCLUSIONS: Despite lack of objective evidence of effectiveness, there was a high level of awareness of and interest in starting hospital at home services for acute exacerbation of COPD in British respiratory departments when assessed in November 1999.

El botiquín de medicamentos en la atención domiciliaria / The ready-used medicine chest in Home Medical Care

Objetivos: El Servicio de Urgencia 061 de Madrid atiende las urgencias a domicilio del municipio de Madrid con las Unidades de Atención Domiciliaria (UAD). Éstas has de ser autosuficientes, por lo que necesitan un botiquín propio y adaptado a sus características. El objetivo del trabajo es presentar el botiquín de medicamentos de las UAD del 061 y su proceso de diseño. Métodos: La Comisión de Farmacia y Terapéutica (CFT) seleccionó los principios activos en distintas formas farmacéuticas, fijando una dotación para cada una. Se buscó el maletín o soporte físico del botiquín: suficientemente compartimentado y grande para disponer los medicamentos seleccionados, pero de tamaño adecuado para ubicarlo en la unidad móvil. Se colocaron los medicamentos por formas farmacéuticas ordenadas alfabéticamente por principio activo, limitados por el espacio, cada cajetín se etiqueta identificando perfectamente el medicamento que contiene. Resultados: Cada UAD dispone de un botiquín de medicamentos que la autoabastace. Se disponen separadamente las orales, parenterales, principios activos en varias presentaciones, antibióticos, medicamentos con formatos de presentación grandes, fluidoterapia, antisépticos y material sanitario. El botiquín se repone y revisa diariamente en el Servicio de Farmacia. Conclusión: El disponer de su propio botiquín permite de la UAD ser autosuficientes y agilizar cambio o modificación en la farmacoterapia. Sus características físicas lo hacen manejable y fácil de transportar, permite la revisión y reposición diaria por el Servicio de Farmacia, minimizando acumulación y riesgos para los medicamentos. Permite al Servicio de Farmacia organizar un verdadero sistema de distribución de medicamentos y conocer los consumos reales (AU)

Aims: The 061 Emergency Medical Service of Madrid takes care of all at-home emergencies through its Emergency Home Medical Care Units (EHMCU). These units must be self-suffcient and require their own ready-use medical chest, which must be adapted to their characteristics. Our aim is to present and discuss the ready-use medical chest of the EHMCUs of the 061 service and the process of design. Methods: The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Commission selected the active principles in varying pharmaceutical presentations and established the quantity to be available. A suitable carryall or physical container was looked for, which had to be sufficiently compartment and large enough to contain all the selected drugs but still of an adequate size to be housed within the mobile EHMCU. The drugs were or alphabetically by active principles within the space limitations. Each separate compartment is clearly labelled with a full identification off the drug contained. Results: Each mobile EHMCU has its own self-sufficient ready-use medicine chest. The oral parental formulations, the variously sized containers, the fluid replacement therapy sets. The antiseptics and the instrumental materials are separately housed. The contents of the medicine chest are reviewed and replaced daily by the Pharmacy Service. Conclusions: The availability of their own unit medicine chest provides the mobile EHMCUs with autonomy and self-sufficiency and speeds up any changes or modifications in drug therapy. The physical features of the medicine chest render it easily portable and manageable and permit daily review and replacement by the Pharmacy Service, minimising drug accumulation and damage to the medicines themselves. This allows the Pharmacy Service to set up a true drug distribution service and to ascertain drug usages (AU)

Internación domiciliaria para pacientes con HIV/SIDA / Home care in HIV patients

La epidemia HIV/SIDA iniciada en los 80, que en nuestra zona muestra una expansión del 20 por ciento anual, determinaría un inexorable desborde en los sistemas de internación, en el Hospital Interzonal Regional de Agudos Oscar E. Alende (HIGA) de Mar del Plata. Al mismo tiempo existe un variado grupo de ONG que cuentan con un cuerpo de voluntarios activos y que soportan una gran demanda por parte de este grupo de pacientes. Desde la Dirección del HIGA se detectó que las demandas eran de baja complejidad, por lo que se decidió desarrollar un Programa de Internación Domiciliaria, como forma de dar una respuesta al problema (AU)

Internación domiciliaria para pacientes con HIV/SIDA / Home care in HIV patients

La epidemia HIV/SIDA iniciada en los '80, que en nuestra zona muestra una expansión del 20 por ciento anual, determinaría un inexorable desborde en los sistemas de internación, en el Hospital Interzonal Regional de Agudos Oscar E. Alende (HIGA) de Mar del Plata. Al mismo tiempo existe un variado grupo de ONG que cuentan con un cuerpo de voluntarios activos y que soportan una gran demanda por parte de este grupo de pacientes. Desde la Dirección del HIGA se detectó que las demandas eran de baja complejidad, por lo que se decidió desarrollar un Programa de Internación Domiciliaria, como forma de dar una respuesta al problema