Aporte de un sistema predictivo de contraloría médica en la gestión de licencias médicas electrónicas / Contributions of a predictive medical audit system in the electronic management of sick leaves

INTRODUCCIÓN: El retraso del procesamiento de las licencias médicas (LMs) representa un problema de salud pública en Chile, considerando que esto afecta el pago del subsidio a las personas destinado a realizar el reposo médico prescrito mientras no se pueda trabajar. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar las diferencias en el tiempo de procesamiento de las licencias médicas electrónicas (LMEs) evaluadas por contraloría médica (CM) y las evaluadas por un sistema predictivo de contraloría médica (SPCM) basado en redes neuronales artificiales. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: El tiempo de procesamiento de LMEs procesadas con SPCM fue comparado con el tiempo de procesamiento de LMEs examinadas solo con CM, usando curvas de Kaplan Meier, prueba de log-rank y modelos multivariados de Cox. RESULTADOS: La tasa de procesamiento del SPCM fue entre 1,7 a 5,5 veces más rápida que la tasa de procesamiento de la CM, ajustando por potenciales confusores. DISCUSIÓN: La implementación del SPCM permitió disminuir el tiempo de procesamiento de las LMEs, beneficiando a los trabajadores afiliados al seguro público.

INTRODUCTION: The delay in the processing of sick leaves (SLs) is a public health pro-blem in Chile, considering that this affects the payment of the subsidy to the indivi-duals destined to perform the prescribed medical rest while unable to work. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in the processing time of electronic SLs (ESLs) evaluated by medical audit (MA) and the SLs evaluated by a predictive medi-cal audit system (PMAS) based on artificial neural networks. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The processing time of the ESLs that were processed by PMAS was compared with the processing time of those that were examined only by MA, using Kaplan Meier curves, log-rank test, and multivariate Cox models. RESULTS: The processing rate for PMAS was 1.7-fold to 5.5-fold faster than MA, after adjusting for potential confoun-ding variables. DISCUSSION: The implementation of the PMAS reduced the processing time of ESLs, which benefits the workers affiliated to the public insurance system in Chile. (AU)

Uso de la clasificación de Robson en un Hospital Comarcal de España para reducir la tasa de cesáreas / Use of the Robson classification in a Regional Hospital in Spain to reduce the rate of cesarean sections

ANTECEDENTES: En las últimas décadas se ha producido un incremento extraordinario en la incidencia de cesáreas en todos los países desarrollados. La tasa de cesáreas en España registrada por el Ministerio de Sanidad es de 24,9%. OBJETIVO: Analizar las cesáreas en el Hospital La Inmaculada, mediante la clasificación de Robson para comparar con otros hospitales, tanto nacional como internacionalmente y establecer las intervenciones posibles para reducir la tasa de cesáreas. MÉTODOS: Se realiza una auditoría retrospectiva de cesáreas en función de la clasificación de diez grupos establecida por Robson desde el 1 enero de 2006 al 31 de diciembre de 2013. RESULTADOS: Se han analizado 9337 partos y 1507 cesáreas con un 16,14%. En la contribución al porcentaje de cesáreas en primer lugar con 25,2% corresponde a nulíparas con un feto único en presentación cefálica, de 37 semanas o más de embarazo. En segundo lugar las multíparas con al menos una cesárea previa, con un feto único en presentación cefálica, de 37 semanas o más de embarazo con 19,4%. En este grupo se ha realizado un 42,2% de cesáreas. En tercer lugar nulíparas con un feto único en presentación cefálica, de 37 semanas o más de embarazo, que han iniciado el parto de forma espontánea con 17,4%. CONCLUSIONES: El aumento de cesáreas en las últimas décadas hace necesario la realización de auditorías mediante un sistema de clasificación, como Robson, para establecer los grupos en los que es posible disminuir el número de cesáreas.

INTRODUCTION: In recent decades there has been a dramatic increase in cesarean section rate in all developed countries. The cesarean section rate in Spain, registered by the Ministry of Health was 24.9%. OBJECTIVE: To analyze cesarean section rate in Inmaculada Local Hospital, using Robson's classification to compare it with other hospitals, both at national and international level and establish potential interventions to reduce such rate. METHODS: A cesarean section rate retrospective audit was performed according to Robson's classification, from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2013. RESULTS: 9337 deliveries and 1507 cesareans were analyzed on that period of time. The cesarean rate was 16.14%. Nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation at 37 weeks or more and undergo a labor induction before the onset of labor represent the first group of the cesareans with 25.2% of the total. In second place comes multiparous women with at least one previous cesarean section with a singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation, 37 weeks or more, representing 19.4% of the total cesareans. This group had a 42.2% cesarean rate. In third place (17.4%) we had nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation, 37 weeks or more, who have started labor spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: Increased cesarean section rate in recent years required audits using a classification system, like Robson's one, to establish the groups in which it is possible to reduce the number of cesareans.

Auditoria farmacêutica: estudo de caso em uma operadora de planos de saúde de Fortaleza (Brasil) / Pharmaceutical audit: a case study in a health insurance company in Fortaleza (Brazil)

O objetivo do estudo foi descrever a implantação, estruturação e desenvolvimento da prática de auditoria farmacêutica em uma operadora de planos de saúde de Fortaleza (OPS). Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo estudo de caso, em que a unidade de análise foi uma OPS localizada em Fortaleza, capital do estado do Ceará (Brasil). Foram coletados e analisados dados qualitativos e quantitativos que corresponderam ao período de 2007 a 2010. Para a implantação da área de auditoria farmacêutica foi utilizada como primeira estratégia sua formalização na Diretoria de Recursos Médicos Hospitalares e na estrutura organizacional da OPS em janeiro de 2007. Com o reconhecimento do trabalho desenvolvido pela área, a equipe chegou em 2010 com dois farmacêuticos, dois assistentes de farmácia e cinco estagiários. O desenvolvimento da prática de auditoria farmacêutica resultou na exigência de pareceres técnicos para inclusão de medicamentos em tabela definida pela OPS e de solicitação para medicamentos de alto custo e de reserva terapêutica. A intervenção do farmacêutico, em seis meses de experiência, junto a pacientes em uso de antimicrobianos mostrou uma economia de R$ 279.153,80. A gestão de quimioterápicos resultou em uma economia total de R$ 2.502.278,31 para a OPS em 2009. Embora a auditoria farmacêutica envolva uma discussão recente, é preciso desde já, que aspectos relacionados à sua implantação, estruturação e desenvolvimento sejam apoiados, uma vez que essa prática ajuda na descrição e análise de elementos assistenciais e de gestão que envolve pacientes em tratamento farmacológico.

The purpose of this study was to describe the implantation, organization and development of pharmaceutical audit in a health insurance provider (HIP) in northeast Brazil. This is a descriptive case study in which the unit of analysis was an HIP located n Fortaleza, capital of Ceará State. Qualitative and quantitative data covering the period from 2007 and 2010 were collected and analyzed. In order to create the pharmaceutical auditing team, the first strategy used was to set up a section in the Hospital Medical Resources Directorate and in the managerial structure of the HIP, in January 2007. With the recognition of the work developed by the section, the team was amplified in 2010 with the arrival of two pharmacists, two pharmacy assistants and five trainees. The development of the practical aspects of pharmaceutical auditing revealed a need for technical opinions on the inclusion of medicines in the table defined by the HIP and requests for authorization in the case of high-cost medicines and those used in reserved therapy. The pharmacist’s intervention, over a six-month period, in the treatment of patients with antibiotics, yielded savings of R$ 279,153.80. The management of chemotherapy resulted in total savings of R$ 2,502,278.31 for the HIP in 2009. Although pharmaceutical auditing has only come out in recent discussions, there is an immediate need to support actions related to its implantation, organization and development, since this practice helps in describing and analyzing the healthcare and management features that involve patients under pharmacological treatment.

Medical audit and death audit.

A good death is not a single event; a good death is a series of events, relationships and preparation that takes place over time (Evans and Walsh, 2002). [1] There is no gold standard for what constitutes a good death, the definition varies between individuals and therefore quality care must be negotiated to incorporate the individual patient values and preferences (Steinhauser et al, 2000).[2] Death audit meetings are infrequent in Government hospitals in India to analyse the circumstances which led to death of patients and what are the possible steps if taken might have prevented the death(Times of India 2004).[3] Medical audit determines the quality of medical care provided to patients from analyzing the clinical records and hospital services. In the present article we have given Idea about history, purpose, and maintenance record and analysis process. Government is planning to make infant and maternal death audit by clinical team compulsory as a part of efforts to ensure that no women and child will died in state (Andhra Pradesh) in want of medical attention (The Hindu 2010).[4]

Scores predictores en internaciones para sala comun / Scores predictors in common room admissions for hospitalization

Los scores son una herramienta de uso habitual en medicina, su finalidad brindar un resultado, que cuantifique un proceso, y ayude al diagnóstico de una patología, o al pronóstico, orientando al médico en la toma de decisiones. Aunque las internaciones hospitalarias más frecuentes con en sala común no existen scores para predecir mortalidad en ese sector. La auditoria hospitalaria demanda planificación de disposicione de camas. Los Grupos Relacionados al Diagnóstico (GRD), se basan en el diagnóstico de ingreso, pero no hay un score para predecir días de estancia en salaque no dependa del diagnóstico. Además a veces pacientes ingresados a sala tienen mala evolución y necesitan trasladarse a la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UTI). Tampoco existen scores para predecir que pacientes presentan este riesgo. OBJETIVO: elagborar scores en adultos que ingresan de manera no programada a sala común que predigan el riesgo de mortalidad, días de estancia y la necesidad de pasar de una internación en sala a cuidados críticos. METODOS: Se evaluaron pacientes mayores de 18 años, que ingresaron para internación por más de 14 horas, por patologías médicas o quirúrgicas, no programada a sala común del Hospital Italiano Córdoba. Se valoraron 53 varieables (antecedentes patológicos, tócivos, variables fisiológicas, datos demográficos, laboratorios, necesidad de oxigenoterapia, datos sociales, servicio de cabecera, grado nitricional y funcional) recabadas al ingreso.

Postal dose audits for radiotherapy centers in Latin America and the Caribbean: trends in 1969-2003

Since 1969 the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization (along with the Pan American Health Organization, working with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean) have operated postal dosimetry audits based on thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) for radiotherapy centers. The purpose of these audits is to provide an independent dosimetry check of radiation beams used to treat cancer patients. The success of radiotherapy treatment depends on accurate dosimetry. Over the period of 1969 through 2003 the calibration of approximately 5 200 photon beams in over 1 300 radiotherapy centers in 115 countries worldwide was checked. Of these audits, 36 percent were performed in Latin America and the Caribbean, with results improving greatly over the years. Unfortunately, in several instances large TLD deviations have confirmed clinical observations of inadequate dosimetry practices in hospitals in various parts of the world or even accidents in radiotherapy, such as the one that occurred in Costa Rica in 1996. Hospitals or centers that operate radiotherapy services without qualified medical physicists or without dosimetry equipment have poorer results than do hospitals or centers that are properly staffed and equipped. When centers have poor TLD results, a follow-up program can help them improve their dosimetry status. However, to achieve audit results that are comparable to those for centers in industrialized countries, additional strengthening of the radiotherapy infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean is needed.

Two year audit of perinatal mortality at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal mortality rate is a sensitive indicator of quality of care provided to women in pregnancy, at and after child birth and to the newborns in the first week of life. Regular perinatal audit would help in identifying all the factors that play a role in causing perinatal deaths and thus help in appropriate interventions to reduce avoidable perinatal deaths. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to determine perinatal mortality rate (PMR) and the factors responsible for perinatal deaths at KMCTH in the two year period from November 2003 to October 2005 (Kartik 2060 B.S. to Ashoj 2062). METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective study of all the still births and early neonatal deaths in KMCTH during the two year period from November 2003 to October 2005. Details of each perinatal death were filled in the standard perinatal death audit forms of the Department of Pediatrics, KMCTH. Perinatal deaths were analyzed according to maternal characteristics like maternal age, parity, type of delivery and fetal characteristics like sex, birth weight and gestational age and classify neonatal deaths according to Wigglesworth's classification and comparison made with earlier similar study. RESULTS: Out of the 1517 total births in the two year period, 22 were still births (SB) and 10 were early neonatal deaths (ENND). Out of the 22 SB, two were of < 1 kg in weight and out of 10 ENND, one was of <1 kg. Thus, perinatal mortality rate during the study period was 19.1 and extended perinatal mortality rate was 21.1 per 1000 births. The important causes of perinatal deaths were extreme prematurity, birth asphyxia, congenital anomalies and associated maternal factors like antepartum hemorrhage and most babies were of very low birth weight. According to Wigglesworth's classification, 43.8% of perinatal deaths were in Group I, 12.5% in Group II, 28.1% in Group III, 12.5% in Group IV and 12.5% in Group V. DISCUSSION: The perinatal death audit done in KMCTH for 1 year period from September 2002 to August 2003 showed perinatal mortality rate of 30.7 and extended perinatal mortality rate of 47.9 per 1000 births. There has been a significant reduction in the perinatal mortality rate in the last 2 years at KMCTH. Main reasons for improvement in perinatal mortality rate were improvement in care of both the mothers and the newborns and the number of births have also increased significantly in the last 2 years without appropriate increase in perinatal deaths. CONCLUSION: Good and regular antenatal care, good care at the time of birth including appropriate and timely intervention and proper care of the sick neonates are important in reducing perinatal deaths. Prevention of preterm births, better care and monitoring during the intranatal period and intensive care of low birth weight babies would help in further reducing perinatal deaths. Key words: Perinatal mortality rate (PMR), still births, early neonatal death (ENND), Total perinatal death (PND).

Evaluación de resultados quirúrgicos: validación inicial del escore POSSUM / Use of the physiological an operative severity score for the enumeration on mortality and morbidity (possum) score in a surgical service

Introducción: Los procesos de evaluación son una actividad fundamental dentro de los procesos del área de la salud. Nos permiten pesquisar errores y corregirlos, y detectar conductas acertadas y reforzarlas. Una forma de evaluar esto es mediante la aplicación de sistemas de puntuación ad-hoc, como el escore POSSUM en pacientes quirúrgicos atendidos en la Unidad de Urgencia Y Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Regional de Temuco. Material y Método: Estudio de corte transversal. Se realizó la traducción del instrumento original, y posteriormente se aplicó éste a una muestra no-probabilística de pacientes de un muestreo entre aquellos sujetos mayores de 18 años, sin restricción de género, que fuero intervenidos quirúrgicamente en los Servicios de Cirugía y Urgencia del Hospital Regional de Temuco, entre diciembre de 2002 y octubre de 2003. A los pacientes se les aplicó el escore en forma independiente por los dos observadores con similar grado de entrenamiento, se evaluó la comprensión de los items, el tiempo para la aplicación del instrumento, la necesidad de entrenamiento y el grado de acuerdo ínter observador. Posteriormente, se evaluó la consistencia interna de la escala mediante la aplicación de alfa de Cronbach. Resultados: No existieron problemas de interpretación en la traducción del instrumento. En la comprensión de los ítems no hubo problemas significativos. El tiempo para aplicar la escala en promedio fue de 7 minutos por paciente. Encontramos un acuerdo en más del 83 por ciento de las mediciones en todas las variables fisiológicas, excepto en la interpretación del electrocardiograma en donde se produjo acuerdo sólo en el 40,5 por ciento. En la parte quirúrgica del escore se verificaron acuerdos de 85,7 por ciento para "presencia de cáncer", 75 por ciento para "contaminación del sitio operatorio", 87,5 por ciento para "sangrado intraoperatorio", y 50 por ciento para "magnitud de la cirugía". La evaluación de la homogeneidad de la escala permitió verificar un alfa de Cronbach de sólo 0,52 para las variables fisiológicas, y de 0,47 para las variables quirúrgicas. Conclusión: Los resultados obtenidos deben reforzar el concepto de validación de todo escore foráneo independiente del rendimiento reportado en su lugar de origen. Sin duda nuestra realidad puede ser muy diferente a aquella en la que se generó el instrumento.

POSSUM--a model for surgical outcome audit in quality care

Comparative surgical audit to monitor quality of care should be performed with a risk-adjusted scoring system rather than using crude morbidity and mortality rates. A validated and widely applied risk adjusted scoring system, P-POSSUM (Portsmouth-Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality) methodology, was applied to a prospective series of predominantly general surgical patients at the Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching over a six months period. The patients were grouped into four risk groups. The observed mortality rates were not significantly different from predicted rates, showing that the quality of surgical care was at par with typical western series. The simplicity and advantages of this scoring system over other auditing tools are discussed. The P-POSSUM methodology could form the basis of local comparative surgical audit for assessment and maintenance of quality care.

Prática de medicina baseada em evidências em um centro de tratamento intensivo pediátrico / The practice of evidence-based medicine in a pediatric intensive care unit

Objetivos: Estimar a concordância entre as práticas e as evidências disponíveis em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de todos os pacientes internados durante 2001. As práticas foram classificadas em adequadas ou não-adequadas de acordo com recomendações. Esperava-se para as práticas recomendadas 90% de concordância, para as contra-indicadas, discordância de até 10% e para aquelas onde havia incertezas, 50%. Resultados: Foram selecionadas 114 publicações e avaliadas 253/275 internações (92%). O uso foi considerado apropriado para albumina em 47,6% (IC 95% 39% - 55%); dopamina <3mg/kg/min 87,9% (83% - 92%); sedação e analgesia 88,6% (87% - 90%); transfusões de concentrado de hemácias 95,2% (92% - 97%); profiliaxia de úlcera de estresse 89,7% (88% - 91%).

Objectives: Estimate the concordance between the practices and the evidence available in a pediatric intensive care unit. Methods: Retrospective study of all admitted patients during 2001. The practices were classified as adequate or non-adequate according to recommendations. It was expected 90% concordance for the recommended practices, while for non-adequate practices, discordance until 10% and for those where there was doubt, 50%. Results: 114 publications were selected and 253/275 admissions (92%) were evaluated. Use was considered appropriate for albumin in 47.6% (IC 95% 39% - 55%); dopamine <3mg/kg/min 87.9% (83% - 92%); sedation and analgesia 88.6% (87% - 90%); red blood cell transfusions 95.2% (92% - 97%); stress ulcer prophylaxis 89.7% (88% - 91%).

Auditoria médica: herramienta de gestión moderna subvalorada / Medical audit: an undervalued management tool

Medical audit is defined as the critical and periodical assessment of the quality of medical care, through the revision on medical records and hospital statistics. This review defines the work of the medical auditor and shows the fields of action of medical audit, emphasizing its importance and usefulness as a management tool. The authors propose that every hospital should create an audit system, should provide the necessary tools to carry out medical audits and should form an audit committee

Auditoría quirúrgica: análisis de factibilidad del sistema de puntuación possum / Surgical audit: evaluation of POSSUM system

Antecedentes: Importancia creciente en auditoría quirúrgica. Objetivo: Evaluación del sistema Possum y su utilidad. Población: Una muestra de 967 pacientes sobre un total de 1878 intervenciones quirúrgicas. Método: Fueron utilizadas ecuaciones de regresión logística para obtener las posibilidades de complicación. Resultados: Debido a la baja mortalidad de la muestra (1,2 por ciento) es estudio se basó en la morbilidad. El porcentaje de complicaciones fue del 22,6 por ciento. Una alta correlación (0,9343) se halló entre el porcentaje de complicación estimado y el observado. Conclusión: El sistema de auditoría quirúrgica Possum es una herramienta útil para evaluar las prácticas quirúrgicas, así como para comparar los resultados con los de otros hospitales, pudiendo ser realizado en cualquier institución, en corto tiempo