Theocharis G, Barbas SG, Spiropoulos T, Stamouli PE, Perdikis DN, Falagas ME. Patient house calls in Attica and Thessaloniki, Greece (2005-2015): a model for out-of-hospital multispecialty emergency medicine.
BMC Health Serv Res 2018;
18:304. [PMID:
29703193 PMCID:
PMC5923023 DOI:
10.1186/s12913-018-3111-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The SOS-doctors are a network of physicians who perform house-call visits in the areas of Attica and Thessaloniki, Greece.
METHODS
Patients requesting medical services by the SOS doctors during the period 1/1/2005 - 31/12/2015 were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective analysis.
RESULTS
During this period 335, 212 home visits were performed. Females used this service more frequently compared to males (60.5% versus 39.5%). Among the age-groups, patients aged over 75 years made 56.6% of all house calls. Fewer phone requests were recorded during autumn than in winter (21.1% versus 29.1%). Infections were the most common cause of house-visits (29%), followed by cardiovascular diseases (10.3%), musculoskeletal (9.1%), gastrointestinal (6.3%) and neurological disorders (3.7%). An increasing demand for radiology at home was observed, starting at 352 calls in 2009 and reaching 2230 in 2015. Finally, 9.2% of patients were advised to be admitted into a hospital.
CONCLUSION
A shift towards older age, but not the oldest old (> 90 years), and acute conditions was observed during the study period. The study confirms that home visits retain a significant role in the modern health care systems.
Collapse