This project, known as Nursing Triage in Primary Care (TEAP), will be tested for three months at the Agurain health center and the consulting rooms in Asparrena, Alegría-Dulantzi, and Barrundia. Its goal is to classify healthcare demand so that each patient receives the most suitable response at the right time, avoiding unnecessary consultation saturation and providing safer, more organized care.
“"The nurse not only attends but also guides, prioritizes, and helps to better organize care, especially in complex cases or for individuals with chronic illnesses."
This new model values the knowledge, experience, and decision-making capacity of nursing staff. The TEAP system allows nursing professionals to assess each patient's clinical situation, relying on clinical interviews, vital sign measurements, and review of medical history. The pilot began in the Llanada Alavesa Primary Care Unit, an area characterized by an aging population, geographical dispersion, and a high care burden, making this project particularly useful.
For five months, until October, the project will be evaluated to analyze its impact on accessibility, waiting times, and the opinions of professionals and citizens through periodic surveys. Following this evaluation, the possibility of extending the initiative to the rest of Osakidetza's Primary Care network will be assessed.
Furthermore, the Basque Government is promoting the new specialty of pediatric nurse specialist in Primary Care. Euskadi will be the first community in Spain to integrate this profile in this field and has already opened new hiring lists to strengthen care for children and adolescents. Both measures, triage and the pediatric specialty, are part of the Basque Health Pact's strategies to reinforce Primary Care.
