Contribution of a synchronic teleneurology program to decrease the patient number waiting for a first consultation and their waiting time in Chile.

ABSTRACT: Backround There is a shortage of medical specialists in Chile, including neurologists; currently, there are 56,614 patients waiting for a first adult Neurology appointment in the country. The Teleneurology Program at the Hospital Las Higueras de Talcahuano (HHT) was implemented in 2015 to help reduce both the number of patients waiting for a first consultation and their waiting times. METHODS:This retrospective study analyzed a cohort of 8269 patients referred to the HHT Neurology clinic between 2013 and 2018, from primary, secondary, and tertiary health centers. Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the factors influencing each outcome (number of patients waiting for a consultation and waiting time), such as age, gender, referral health establishment and the type of consulta

SUBMITTER: Constanzo F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7003445 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature