Objective. Today, the most important demographic change taking place is the rapid aging of the population. While this phenomenon is having a growing and profound impact on all spheres of society, its greatest impact is in the health area, affecting all levels of health care and leading to the need for new resources and new structures. Out of that, in many countries have come different alternatives as well as in-patient, outpatient, and in-home programs that are geared toward improving health care and helping set priorities. One of these new initiatives is home hospitalization, or home health care. One objective of this study was to describe and analyze the characteristics of a population in Spain that was assisted through home hospitalization (HH). Another objective of the study was to comment on the role that HH can play as a mechanism for integration and coordination between health care levels, in the face of the challenges occurring with the reorganization of health care policies and programs, especially those directed at the elderly. Methods. A retrospective descriptive study was done of patients assisted through HH in Sanitary Area 9 of the Autonomous Community of Valencia, which is on the eastern coast of Spain. The area's population was 321 361, of whom 60 079 (18.7%) were 60 or older, including 43 044 (13.4%) who were 65 or older. A descriptive study of the analyzed variables was done, with the mean and standard deviation being computed for quantitative variables, and the absolute and relative frequencies (percentages) being calculated for the qualitative variables. Results. Of the patients studied, 78% of them were 65 or older, with an average age of 73 years. They were predominantly women. Of the total group, 72% of them had chronic diseases, and 67% had at least one associated secondary diagnosis. There was an important problem of communication between the two principal levels of care, primary care and hospital care, which obviously had an impact on the patients and on the quality and effectiveness of their health care. Furthermore, it was found that HH finds its greatest utility with and is an effective tool for an adult or elderly population that has multiple chronic degenerative or terminal diseases. Conclusions. The results of this study highlight the need to create or strengthen channels and mechanisms for interinstitutional communication that will guarantee continuity of care. The ongoing, effective care of the health and well-being of elderly persons requires different levels of health interventions. This care should be comprehensive, adequate, integrated, of high quality, humanized, timely, and coordinated between the two principal levels of health care. In the final analysis, these factors will determine the quality of the health care for geriatric patients and the capacity to solve their health problems.

Objetivos. En la actualidad, el fenómeno demográfico más importante es el rápido envejecimiento de la población, que tiene un creciente y profundo impacto en todos los ámbitos de la sociedad, aunque su mayor trascendencia es en la sanidad, tanto por su repercusión en todos los niveles asistenciales como por la necesidad de nuevos recursos y estructuras. De ahí que se hayan desarrollado en muchos países diferentes alternativas y programas institucionales, ambulatorios y domiciliarios, encaminados a mejorar la situación sanitaria y a auxiliar en el proceso de establecer prioridades. La hospitalización domiciliaria (HD) es una de ellas. El objetivo de este estudio consistió en describir y analizar las características de la población asistida en HD, y en comentar el papel de la HD como mecanismo de integración y coordinación entre niveles, frente al reto de la reorganización de políticas y proyectos de atención sanitaria, especialmente los dirigidos a la población anciana. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de una serie de pacientes asistidos en HD en el área sanitaria número 9 de la Comunidad Valenciana, España, con una población de referencia de 321 361 habitantes, de los cuales 60 079 (18,7%) son personas de 60 años o más, y 43 044 (13,4%), de 65 años o más. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de las variables analizadas, calculándose la media y la desviación estándar para las variables cuantitativas, y las frecuencias absoluta y relativa (porcentaje) para las variables cualitativas. Resultados. El perfil de los pacientes estudiados corresponde a ancianos (el 78% con 65 años o más; media de 73 años), predominantemente del sexo femenino, con enfermedades crónicas (72%) y múltiples enfermedades asociadas (el 67% tenía al menos un diagnóstico secundario asociado). Se constató la existencia de un importante problema de comunicación entre los dos principales niveles de atención (primaria y hospitalaria), que obviamente repercute en los pacientes y en la calidad y eficacia de la asistencia sanitaria. Asimismo, se verificó que la HD encuentra todo su significado en la población adulta o anciana con múltiples enfermedades crónicas degenerativas o terminales, en la que ha demostrado ser una herramienta eficiente. Conclusiones. Se destaca la necesidad de crear o potenciar los canales y mecanismos de comunicación interinstitucional que garanticen la continuidad del proceso asistencial. La asistencia continua y eficaz de la salud y bienestar del anciano requiere diferentes niveles de intervención sanitaria y debe estar basada en lo que hoy es un objetivo inaplazable: la atención integral, adecuada, de calidad, humanizada, oportuna y basada en una asistencia integrada y coordinada entre los dos principales niveles de atención sanitaria. Son estos factores los que, en última instancia, determinan la calidad de la asistencia y la capacidad resolutiva de los problemas asistenciales planteados en la atención al paciente geriátrico.

Objective. To establish the different forms that the concept of home care has taken over time as a modality for providing health care, so as to contribute to the debate on the circumstances affecting health care management in the face of future challenges. Methods. The literature is reviewed on home care as a method for delivering health care, by researching publications indexed during the period of 1995-2000 in three medical bibliographical databases: MEDLINE, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences) and the Índice Médico Español (Spanish Medical Index). Results. Home hospitalization has developed differently over time in various countries, with an assortment of models for this type of care, each with its respective advantages and disadvantages. Conclusions. There are some criteria and proposals that could provide a framework for home care that is innovative, effective, and of high quality. Home care could help in the design and creation of a consensus on an organizational and financing model that fits in harmoniously between primary care and care in a hospital.

Objetivo. Determinar las distintas variantes que ha tenido el concepto de la hospitalización domiciliaria a lo largo del tiempo, para así contribuir al debate sobre las circunstancias que inciden en la gestión sanitaria frente a futuros retos. Métodos. Se revisa la literatura sobre la atención domiciliaria como modalidad asistencial de salud mediante una exploración de las publicaciones indizadas en MEDLINE, LILACS y el Índice Médico Español durante el período de 1995-2000. Resultados. La hospitalización domiciliaria ha tenido un desarrollo desigual a lo largo del tiempo en diferentes países y son varios los modelos de este tipo de atención, cada uno con sus respectivas ventajas y desventajas. Conclusiones. Se definen algunos criterios y propuestas que podrían enmarcar una gestión domiciliaria innovadora, efectiva y de calidad. Se concluye que la atención domiciliaria podría contribuir a diseñar y establecer un modelo consensuado y armonioso de organización y financiación entre los niveles de atención primaria y hospitalaria.

Este trabalho discute as conseqüências paradoxais das ações em saúde, pensadas a partir do ideal universalizante igualitário, consubstanciado na Constituição de 1988; bem como os dilemas que hoje se interpõem ao setor público em saúde.Uma análise da conjuntura atual do relacionamento entre o setor público e o privado em saúde foi desenvolvida tendo como subsídio a investigação empírica, com atenção especial ao conhecimento local.A técnica amostrai utilizada foi a "amostragem por experts".Através deste método, identificam-se os atores mais relevantes para o processo de construção e implantação do Sistema Único de Saúde. Impõe-se, assim, a combinação de conhecimentos estratégicos específicos, derivados de vários atores políticos inseridos direta ou indiretamente no processo de implementação da política de saúde em curso.Quarenta e nove entrevistas participantes foram realizadas com atores relevantes para o setor saúde, escolhidos em instituições públicas e privadas da saúde. Finalmente, procedeu-se à análise documental e estatística.Os resultados mostraram que as formas perversas de interação do sistema público de saúde com o mercado, conseqüência da maneira desorganizada de o governo implementar a Reforma Sanitária, apontam para um retrocesso na forma de custeio da saúde no país. Tem-se, de um lado, a obrigatoriedade de contribuição previdenciária e, de outro, o pagamento de seguros privados de saúde, sem, ao final, ter-se a garantia de um atendimento satisfatório.Institui-se, portanto, na saúde, um jogo do "salve-se quem puder", jogo em que a fuga para o mercado não representa uma saída total do sistema público, nem garantia de atendimento.

The paper discusses the paradoxes of some unanticipated consequences of the actions in the field of collective health, created by the universal egalitarian ideal formulated by the Brazilian Constitution, and also the dilemmas that nowadays are posed to the public health system.An analysis based on the present hypotheses on the relationship between the public and private health care systems was carried out using an empirical investigation, with special attention for the local knowledge.The sampling technique used was the "experts sampling method". This method identify the most important actors involved in the process of institutional implantation and management in the realm of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).Forty-nine participants were interviewed, all of them key actors in both public and private health institutions. Finally, a comprehensive survey of available documents and statistical analyses were undertaken.The results highlight a perverse interaction of the Unified Health System with the market, as a consequence of the unorganized implementation of the Sanitary Reform, determining serious barriers toward the implementation of a reliable and equitable financial structure of Brazilian Health System. The public social insurance taxes are compulsory in Brazil, but the common citizen pays also private health insurance plans, but remain unsure about the perspectives of receiving satisfactory treatment.So, in the Brazilian health sector, a game of "rescue yourself, if you can" is going on, in which neither the public system or the market address in fact the complex problems in the domain of medical care.

Este trabalho discute as conseqüências paradoxais das ações em saúde, pensadas a partir do ideal universalizante igualitário, consubstanciado na Constituição de 1988; bem como os dilemas que hoje se interpõem ao setor público em saúde.Uma análise da conjuntura atual do relacionamento entre o setor público e o privado em saúde foi desenvolvida tendo como subsídio a investigação empírica, com atenção especial ao conhecimento local.A técnica amostrai utilizada foi a "amostragem por experts".Através deste método, identificam-se os atores mais relevantes para o processo de construção e implantação do Sistema Único de Saúde. Impõe-se, assim, a combinação de conhecimentos estratégicos específicos, derivados de vários atores políticos inseridos direta ou indiretamente no processo de implementação da política de saúde em curso.Quarenta e nove entrevistas participantes foram realizadas com atores relevantes para o setor saúde, escolhidos em instituições públicas e privadas da saúde. Finalmente, procedeu-se à análise documental e estatística.Os resultados mostraram que as formas perversas de interação do sistema público de saúde com o mercado, conseqüência da maneira desorganizada de o governo implementar a Reforma Sanitária, apontam para um retrocesso na forma de custeio da saúde no país. Tem-se, de um lado, a obrigatoriedade de contribuição previdenciária e, de outro, o pagamento de seguros privados de saúde, sem, ao final, ter-se a garantia de um atendimento satisfatório.Institui-se, portanto, na saúde, um jogo do "salve-se quem puder", jogo em que a fuga para o mercado não representa uma saída total do sistema público, nem garantia de atendimento.

The paper discusses the paradoxes of some unanticipated consequences of the actions in the field of collective health, created by the universal egalitarian ideal formulated by the Brazilian Constitution, and also the dilemmas that nowadays are posed to the public health system.An analysis based on the present hypotheses on the relationship between the public and private health care systems was carried out using an empirical investigation, with special attention for the local knowledge.The sampling technique used was the "experts sampling method". This method identify the most important actors involved in the process of institutional implantation and management in the realm of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).Forty-nine participants were interviewed, all of them key actors in both public and private health institutions. Finally, a comprehensive survey of available documents and statistical analyses were undertaken.The results highlight a perverse interaction of the Unified Health System with the market, as a consequence of the unorganized implementation of the Sanitary Reform, determining serious barriers toward the implementation of a reliable and equitable financial structure of Brazilian Health System. The public social insurance taxes are compulsory in Brazil, but the common citizen pays also private health insurance plans, but remain unsure about the perspectives of receiving satisfactory treatment.So, in the Brazilian health sector, a game of "rescue yourself, if you can" is going on, in which neither the public system or the market address in fact the complex problems in the domain of medical care.