[Final results of an initiative aiming to improve the referrals from primary care to a Department of Urology].

Objectives: To test two interventions aiming at improving the compliance of primary health care physicians with an agreed-on protocol of referrals to a urology department.

Methods: Joint formative meetings (every six months) were celebrated throughout a 24-month period. Also a counseling telephone line was implemented.

Concordance analysis of ultrasonographic diagnoses by urology nurses.

Objectives: To check the degree of concordance in renal ultrasound examination between two nurses and one experienced urologist with the aim of testing nurses' competence performing renal ultrasound.

Methods: The echographic aspect of both kidneys (normal or abnormal) was evaluated. Every abnormal finding resulted in the automatic classification of the kidney as 'abnormal'.

Quality perception in the outpatient area of an Urology department. Can we improve it?

Objectives: To test patient's satisfaction after consultation in the outpatient area of the Urology Department in a public hospital using a structured interview.

Methods: We used the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM) standard interview form modified to include three questions related to the implementation of a 'one-visit'policy and nurses' empowerment. Patients' opinions were gathered with respect to waiting times in the waiting room, facilities, and staff kindness and professionalism.

The one-stop clinic as the standard of out-patient care in a hospital urology department.

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of a 'one-stop' clinic in terms of proportion of discharges or inclusion in surgical waiting lists.

Materials And Methods: All patients were referred from primary care facilities (population 220,646) and from different departments in the hospital. Eight senior urologists, two registered nurses and two nurse attendants participated in the experience.