Abstract

DOMINGUEZ GONZALEZ, M.ª Nieves; LOPEZ-PARDO PARDO, M.ª Estrella; REY LISTE, M.ª Teresa  and  GARCIA SIXTO, M.ª Montserrat. Intervention to reduce variability in surgical indications and the waiting list of priority 1 patients: An experience in Galicia (Spain). Gac Sanit [online]. 2011, vol.25, n.6, pp.545-548. ISSN 0213-9111.

The aims of this study were to homogenize priority 1 surgical indications in Galician hospitals and propose a methodology designed to ensure that that the waiting times of priority 1 patients do not exceed 30 days. The priority 1 surgical indications of the distinct surgical services in Galicia were obtained and reviewed and were then sent for validation to the scientific societies. To reduce waiting times to less than 30 days, a procedure of periodic patient monitoring was established, with allocation of tasks to all the parties involved. Comparison of the mean waiting times before and after the implantation of periodic monitoring showed that this procedure reduced the mean waiting time by 55.7%. The mean waiting time was reduced in all the surgical specialities except one. In almost all of the surgical specialities, the procedure established reduced the number of patients on the waiting lists and the mean waiting time to less than 30 days.

Keywords : Priority; Waiting lists; Surgery.

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