RELEVANCE OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK IN TUNGURAHUA FOR THE CARE OF INTOXICATED PATIENTS

Acute intoxications are considered medical emergencies and are attended in emergency services; therefore, they need to have an adequate structure and process for the care of these patients. The objective of this research is to determine the relevance of the emergency services of the integral public health network in the province of Tungurahua for the care of intoxicated patients. The study was observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, with a mixed approach and included the emergency services of five hospitals. The results showed that the availability of documentation in these services was sufficient, the availability of toxicological analysis and diagnostic means was 60% of therapeutic resources for decontamination 50% and of antidotes 55%, so that the material resources were considered insufficient. The number of beds was adequate, and all the hospitals had laboratories for toxicological analysis; therefore, the infrastructure was considered sufficient. In 60% of these services, 40% of the staff is occupied by physicians with related specialties, so human resources were partially sufficient. The execution of care for intoxicated patients was adequate and the level of knowledge of the physicians was partially adequate. It is concluded that both the structure and the process were considered partially adequate and therefore the emergency services of the comprehensive public health network in the province were also considered partially relevant for the care of the intoxicated patient.