Efficacy of a high-resolution consultation system in gastroenterology at an Andalusian hospital center.

BACKGROUND

By high resolution consultation (HRC) we mean an ambulatory process of assistance fulfilled in a single day, by which treatment and diagnosis are established and recorded.

OBJECTIVE

To assess to which extent patients with digestive conditions may benefit from a single consultation system.

MATERIAL: A descriptive study of 179 first visit events, randomly selected as high-resolution consultations in gastroenterology. We discuss the percentage of patients who benefited from HRC and the complementary tests performed.

RESULTS

Most common conditions included dyspepsia (16%), a family history of colon cancer (16%) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (16%). Seventy-nine (44%) of all first visits became HRCs and 80 (45%) required a diagnostic test (100% abdominal ultrasound) that was reviewed on the same day. Performing a test on the same day significantly increased the percentage of HRCs (57% vs. 34%, p < 0.002). GERD, dyspepsia, cholelithiasis and chronic liver disease were the subjects most commonly leading to HRC.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastroenterology consultations may largely benefit from an HRC system with only organizational changes and no additional costs.