[The P-10 as a tool in the evaluation of the use of a pediatric hospital emergency service by the primary care network].

With the aim of determining if the Primary Care network adequately uses our centre's Emergency service, the 390 P-10s received during May and June 1990 were examined. The presence of clinical judgement, the percentage of admissions, the place of origin of the P-10, the relationship of the issuing centre to our Health Area, the diagnosis made in the Emergency Centre and the patient's destination were all analysed. 42.3% came from rural areas. Clinical judgement was exercised in 56.13%. The P-10s from urban areas showed that clinical judgement had been exercised in 63.6% of cases, as against only 49.7% in the rural areas and 43.2% in the special emergency service. 13.2% were admitted. 41.7% of the referral forms did not come from our health area. The results led us to conclude that there is an insufficient use of the P-10 in our field, as the majority of these patients could have been taken on by the Primary Care network.