An organizational model for a primary care program of home health care in Spain: a description of the program

The National Institute of Health (INSALUD) in Spain has successfully used a model of home care that has two major components, each using the physician as part of the team that provides care at home. The first component is home health care that is provided to chronically ill, terminally ill and homebound patients, whereby professionals of primary care provide care for the patient at home, along with other professionals who provide specialized care as support elements. The second component is hospitalization at home, whereby care is provided to acutely ill patients or patients with a precocious medical or surgical discharge from the hospital. The professionals from the hospital provide the basis of care. and the primary health care professionals are the support elements. Both components incorporate a team of support.