TY - JOUR T1 - Children's medically complex diseases unit. A model required in all our hospitals JO - Anales de Pediatría (English Edition) T2 - AU - Climent Alcalá,Francisco José AU - García Fernández de Villalta,Marta AU - Escosa García,Luis AU - Rodríguez Alonso,Aroa AU - Albajara Velasco,Luis Adolfo SN - 23412879 M3 - 10.1016/j.anpede.2017.04.004 DO - 10.1016/j.anpede.2017.04.004 UR - https://analesdepediatria.org/en-children39s-medically-complex-diseases-unit--articulo-S2341287917302065 AB - IntroductionThe increase in survival of children with severe diseases has led to the rise of children with chronic diseases, sometimes with lifelong disabilities. In 2008, a unit for the specific care of medically complex children (MCC) was created in Hospital La Paz. ObjectivesTo describe the work and care activities of this Unit. Patients and methodsAn analysis was performed on all discharge reports of the Unit between January 2014 and July 2016. ResultsThe MCC Unit has 6 beds and a daily outpatient clinic. A total of 1.027 patients have been treated since the creation of the unit, with 243 from 2014. The median age was 24.2 months (IQ: 10.21–84.25). The large majority (92.59%) have multiple diseases, the most frequent chronic conditions observed were neurological (76.95%), gastrointestinal (63.78%), and respiratory diseases (61.72%). More than two-thirds (69.54%) of MCC are dependent on technology, 53.49% on respiratory support, and 35.80% on nutritional support. Hospital admission rates have increased annually. There have been 403 admissions since 2014, of which 8.93% were re-admissions within 30 days of hospital discharge. The median stay during 2014–2016 was 6 days (IQ: 3–14). The occupancy rate has been above 100% for this period. Currently, 210 patients remain on follow-up (86.42%), and 11 children (4.53%) were discharged to their referral hospitals. The mortality rate is 9.05% (22 deaths). The main condition of these 22 patients was neurological (9 patients). Infectious diseases were the leading cause of death. ConclusionMCC should be treated in specialised units in tertiary or high-level hospitals. ER -