Impacto del intensivista en el manejo y gestion en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos / Impact of the intensivist in the handling and management in an intensive care unit

ABSTRACT

The development of medicine in the different ambits, has placed lately a strong emphasis in what refers to management which in the area of Critical Medicine has a major relevance due to the high costs invested in this type of patients. There are several publications waiting to show the role of the specialist in intensive therapy and how his work, vision and handling of critical patients impacts on the general operation of these units on its performance and eventually on administrative management. At the Coquimbo Hospital, there is an Intensive Care Unit since 1993, which began to function with interns. Since 1997, and in sequence, two of the doctors who work there, specialize in Critical Medicine, with studies abroad, and one of them becomes chief of the unit. This report analyzes, in a retrospective way, both periods: before and after the incorporation of these specialists; showing a better performance on the epidemiological parameters in the second stage; not being able to complement it with costs data. On the other hand, advances in techniques and clinical guides are mentioned. The Intensive Care Units are benefited by the presence of specialists within their team.