Consulta telemática realizada por Enfermería en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: valoración de su capacidad resolutiva y costes / Telematic consultations by nursing staff for patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Evaluation of its capacity for resolving problems and its costs

INTRODUCCIÓN: El manejo de los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) se asocia a un importante consumo de recursos sanitarios. En el año 2009 se creó en el CHUVI una consulta de enfermería en patología digestiva, con disponibilidad de atención telemática. El notable incremento en esta área nos estimula a cuantificar el ahorro de lo que esta atención puede suponer para el sistema de salud. OBJETIVOS: 1) Valorar los resultados de la puesta en marcha de una consulta telemática. 2) Valorar la capacidad de resolución telemática por parte de enfermería. 3) Estimar el posible ahorro de la consulta telemática de EII. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Recogida de la actividad telemática de 2009 a 2011. Análisis estimado del ahorro sanitario, mediante la aplicación de las tarifas por servicios sanitarios del SERGAS, para demandas originadas por aparición de nueva clínica/brote de actividad de EII. Análisis de datos con SPSS 15.0. RESULTADOS: Existe un aumento lineal significativo de la resolución telefónica de demandas por parte de enfermería (p = 0,03) y una reducción de las que precisan acudir a consulta médica (p < 0,0001). De las demandas por brote (n = 452), solo han requerido atención en el servicio de urgencias 65 (14,38%), precisando su ingreso 33 (7,3%). El cálculo del ahorro medio estimado en 2009-2011 ascendería de media a 73.603 €. CONCLUSIONES: Se objetiva un aumento de la capacidad de resolución de la atención telemática por parte de enfermería. En cuanto al ahorro estimado, podemos concluir que la atención telemática consigue un ahorro significativo de los costes sanitarios, que justifica la implementación de una consulta de enfermería en patología digestiva

INTRODUCTION: The management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a significant use of healthcare resources. In 2009, a digestive diseases nursing consultation, with availability of health telematic media was created in our hospital (CHUVI). The important activity performed in this area encouraged us to quantify the cost savings for the care health system. AIMS: 1) To evaluate the results of the implementation of a telematic IBD consultation. 2) To assess the capacity for resolving problems by nurses. 3) To estimate the potential cost savings of telematic nursing consultation in IBD. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We collected data on telematic activity from 2009 to 2011. The estimated cost saving was calculated by applying the fees for health services published by our National Health Service (SERGAS) for care in new outbreaks of IBD activity. Data were analyzed with SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: There was a significant linear increase on the resolution of telephone demands by nurses (P = .03) and an important decrease of demands needing medical advice (P < .0001). Focusing on IBD outbreak claims (n = 452), only 65 patients (14.38%) required medical attention in emergency services, and 33 (7.3%) were hospitalized. Altogether we calculated an average cost saving since 2009 to 2011 of 73,603 €. CONCLUSIONS: We found a gradual increase in resolving telematic care demands by nurses. Telematic consultation can lead to significant cost savings, which justify the implementation of a digestive diseases nurse consultation

[Telematic consultations by nursing staff for patients with inflammatory bowel disease: evaluation of its capacity for resolving problems and its costs]. / Consulta telemática realizada por Enfermería en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: valoración de su capacidad resolutiva y costes.

INTRODUCTION: The management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a significant use of healthcare resources. In 2009, a digestive diseases nursing consultation, with availability of health telematic media was created in our hospital (CHUVI). The important activity performed in this area encouraged us to quantify the cost savings for the care health system. AIMS: 1) To evaluate the results of the implementation of a telematic IBD consultation. 2) To assess the capacity for resolving problems by nurses. 3) To estimate the potential cost savings of telematic nursing consultation in IBD. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We collected data on telematic activity from 2009 to 2011. The estimated cost saving was calculated by applying the fees for health services published by our National Health Service (SERGAS) for care in new outbreaks of IBD activity. Data were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 RESULTS: There was a significant linear increase on the resolution of telephone demands by nurses (P=.03) and an important decrease of demands needing medical advice (P<.0001). Focusing on IBD outbreak claims (n=452), only 65 patients (14.38%) required medical attention in emergency services, and 33 (7.3%) were hospitalized. Altogether we calculated an average cost saving since 2009 to 2011 of 73,603€. CONCLUSIONS: We found a gradual increase in resolving telematic care demands by nurses. Telematic consultation can lead to significant cost savings, which justify the implementation of a digestive diseases nurse consultation.