[The relationship between primary and specialized care].

OBJECTIVES

To find the current situation regarding the relationship between Primary Care and specialist doctors. To find the defects in this relationship and to propose actions to improve the situation.

DESIGN

Delphi technique.

SETTING

Area Medical Directors, Medical Coordinators of Primary Care Centres, Hospital Medical Directors, Internal Medicine Service chiefs and Casualty directors from the entire Community of Valencia.

RESULTS

After a qualitative analysis of the replies given in the first and second questionnaires, the 10 most serious problems for the Primary Care/Hospital relationship were extracted, along with 10 possible solutions to improve this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

The main problems detected between Hospital and Primary Care concerned the professional and organisational areas. The solutions suggested mainly centered on the organisational area. Specific differences were found in the prioritization of the replies, both for problems and solutions, depending on whether the point of view was Primary or Hospital Care.