Family and Community Medicine

For years, the Ribera POVISA Hospital has offered the possibility of completing a Residency in Family and Community Medicine. In collaboration and coordination with the Vigo Teaching Unit, as it is a tertiary center, residents have the facility to rotate through the medical and surgical specialties included in the training program. The patients come from the health areas and Health Centers assigned to the Galician Health Service (SERGAS). In terms of resident training, this represents a training advantage by closing the circle of care, being able to rotate by health center, Continuing Care Point, medical and surgical hospital rotations and Hospital Emergencies within the same health sector, benefiting from the knowledge of the circuits and relationships established between Primary Care and Hospital Care, favoring continuity of patient care.

From the Ribera-Povisa Hospital it is understood that the training of specialists in Family and Community Medicine does not end in their care work. As an important part of the Hospital's resident group, participation in clinical sessions and courses on equal terms with residents of other specialties is promoted and facilitated through the Teaching Committee. Along these lines, this year, with great involvement on the part of current residents, the “15/15 Emergency” plan has been launched, periodic sessions prepared by Family and Community Medicine residents, open to all specialties, to address the management of the most prevalent pathology in emergencies and presentation of real clinical cases that have been treated in the service.  

The Emergency Service of the Ribera POVISA Hospital deals with approximately 250-300 general emergencies in 24 hours. It has about 80 people including attending doctors, nurses, nursing assistants and guards. In addition, it is the reference center for the south of Galicia in Burns Unit, Hand Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, providing care for these patients an added value that complements the Emergency Training of Family Doctors, especially regarding to the management of these pathologies once they finish their training period and begin to provide care in either Primary Care, Out-of-hospital Emergencies or Hospital Emergencies. 

In general, the good work environment and the excellent collaboration between the different services means that year after year the Ribera POVISA Hospital is valued favorably as a training center in Family and Community Medicine.