Study of the Adequacy of Special Units in Public and Private Hospitals in the City of Montevideo.

Abstract

Special Units (SU) are physical spaces meant for the preparation and distribution of the dairy formulas (DF) and enteral formulas (EF), which holds the purpose of providing an innocuous artificial nourishment based on the nutritional needs of the subject. The goal of this investigation was to diagnose work areas and equipment according to the technical recommendations that are applied to the Special Units in public and private hospitals. The methodology of the investigation in 13 SU in hospitals in Montevideo city was of the observational, descriptive and transversal sort. A check-list was used to compile data, meant for the visual verification of the characteristics of the physical plant, the infrastructure and the equipment in the SU.

In terms of the physical plant’s dimension, the main results show that 11 out of 13 hospitals have available a physical place for the exclusive use of the SU, installed in areas far from main points of insalubrity, questionable smells, smoke, dust and other contaminants that coincide with the specifications established by current norms for food enterprises; moreover, access is only for authorized staff. The functional location of work areas in reception, storage and food preparation is clearly defined. The endowment of minor and major equipment evidences an “adequate” fulfillment level according to quality and quantity.

When comparing the characteristics of the physical plant between public and private healthcare it can be concluded a similar level of “adequate” and “completely adequate” for the variables location, construction and configuration of work areas, building conditions of floors, walls and roofs, differentiation of work areas. However, the availability of equipment shows a lower level of adequacy, therefore there’s inequality between the public and private sector.

Keywords: Special Units, technical criteria; physical plant, equipment, evaluation.