[Activity of internal medicine services in the surgical area in Argentina]

The aim of the study was to determine the organization of healthcare activity of internal medicine (IM) services in the surgical area of general acute care hospitals in Argentina.

A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was performed between 03/01/19-05/01/19. A web survey about shared care (SC) and internal medicine consultations (IMC) was implemented. General acute hospitals under public and non-public management were included.

The survey was answered by 141 institutions (58% public), 40% have SC in charge of fixed or rotating internists (88% in orthopedic surgery and 72% in general surgery). Response to IMC: only internists (57%), internists accompanied by IM residents (40%) and only residents (3%). The assignment of the IMC is shared with other tasks of the service (96%); the request is mixed (verbal-written) in 62% and only written in 35%. The follow-up is carried out by the same doctor who responds to the MI in 56%. The response to the IMC is written and verbal (94%) and there is some type of record of the activity (71%).

The activity of the internist in the surgical area is mainly through the MI and in less than half it is through SC. In Argentina, there is no uniform pattern in the organization of activity of the internist in response to the demand for IMC and in the practice of SC. The activities are subordinate to the activities of the internal medicine service, and it is a statistically hidden activity.