[Implementation of a regional system for the emergency care of acute XXXX : Initial results].

@entity1 @entity64 @entity66 @entity385
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Implementing integrated systems for emergency care of @entity1 with acute @entity385 helps reduce morbidity and mortality. We describe the process of organizing and implementing a regional system to cover around 3.7 million @entity1 and its main initial results. METHODS: We performed a descriptive analysis of the implementation process and a retrospective analysis of the following parameters: number of @entity1 prenotified by the pre-hospital system; number of times thrombolysis was performed; door-to-needle time; and functional assessment three months after @entity64 . RESULTS: The implementation process started in November 2005 and ended in December 2009, and included 11 health centers. There were 3574 prenotifications from the prehospital system. Thrombolysis was performed in 1142 @entity1 . The percentage of @entity1 receiving thrombolysis rose during the study period, with a maximum of 16%. Median door-to-needle time was 62 min in 2009. Functional recovery three months after @entity64 was total or near total in 50% of @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS: The regional system implemented for emergency care of @entity1 with acute @entity385 has led to health gains, with progressive improvements in @entity1 ' access to thrombolysis, and to greater equity in the health care system, thus helping to reduce mortality from @entity66 in Portugal. Our results, which are comparable with those of international studies, support the strategy adopted for implementation of this system.
