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. 2018 Feb 1;116(1):e70-e74.
doi: 10.5546/aap.2018.eng.e70.

6 minutes

[Article in English, Spanish]
Pablo R Justich Zabala  1
Affiliations
Free article

6 minutes

[Article in English, Spanish]
Pablo R Justich Zabala. Arch Argent Pediatr. .
Free article

Abstract
in English, Spanish

At present, there is a trend towards reducing the duration of office visits. In some regions of Spain, it has been set at 6 minutes per patient. This impacts on several levels: literally, many times it is impossible to complete the medical act; at an emotional level, because there is little possibility to establish an adequate doctor-patient relationship; and symbolically, for considering that the main aspects of humane health care are expendable. This takes place in a society that tends to see health care as a merchandise subject to market rules that gives priority to the immediate over the important. Patients, physicians, and managing authorities are participants of this change which negatively affects current medical practice. The increase in unnecessary additional testing, avoidable treatments, the costs of iatrogenesis, a lower treatment adherence, and unnecessary reconsultations are proven consequences. In the field of pediatrics, this increases the risk of losing screening opportunities in critical areas.

Existe, actualmente, una tendencia a reducir el tiempo de consulta. En algunas regiones de España, se fija en 6 minutos por paciente. Esto tiene impacto en varios planos: literal, en el que, muchas veces, es imposible realizar el acto médico; emocional, en el que se reduce la posibilidad de establecer una relación médico-paciente adecuada; y simbólico, en el que se señalan como prescindibles los aspectos principales de la atención humanizada. Esto ocurre en una sociedad que tiende a ver la atención médica como mercancía sujeta a reglas de mercado y que prioriza lo inmediato por sobre lo importante. Pacientes, médicos y responsables de gestión participan de este cambio que influye negativamente en la medicina actual. El aumento de exámenes complementarios innecesarios, tratamientos evitables, costos por iatrogenia, menor adhesión a tratamientos, reconsultas innecesarias son consecuencias observadas. En el caso de la pediatría, aumenta el riesgo de pérdida de oportunidades de pesquisa en áreas fundamentales.

Keywords: Empathy; Health care management; Humanism; Time management.

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