LA PSICOLOGÍA CLÍNICA HOSPITALARIA EN EL SERVICIO MADRILEÑO DE SALUD: CARACTERÍSTICAS, RECURSOS HUMANOS Y PERSPECTIVAS

Abstract

Hospital Clinical Psychology covers the psychological care provided in the medical-health services of hospitals to patients with health problems. The objective of this study has been to identify the resources and organizational characteristics in the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS), through a survey of hospital clinical psychologists (PEPC), and to know their perspective regarding the organization of care. Responses have been collected from 47 PEPC who work in 21 hospitals of the Madrid Health Service. There are 56 PEPC in Hospital Clinical Psychology programs in 29 SERMAS hospitals, with a global average ratio of 0.84 hospital PEPC/100,000 hab. and the majority integrated in interconsultation-liaison of Psychiatry Services. The mean waiting time for hospitalized patients was 2.57 days and 2.25 months for outpatients. The mean delay between consultations was 2.33 days during hospitalization and 4.48 weeks in outpatient consultations. The main activities and care programs carried out and the inequities in the availability of these programs are identified. 34% of all hospitals do not have direct referrals to clinical psychology, and 85% of those surveyed indicate that there are no PEPC in management positions in their hospital. The implications of these results are discussed.