[Home care: the experience of a private hospital in the state of São Paulo].

Home care is defined as a group of hospital procedures that can be developed at home, encompassing health actions developed by a multiprofessional team. This study aims at disseminating the experience of a home care service offered by São Francisco Hospital, located in the city of Ribeirão Preto, presenting the results of a 12-month period (from September 2001 to August 2002). During the analyzed period, the service provided care mainly to women (57%), with age between 70 and 80 years (30%), with diagnosis of neurological diseases (27%) and tumors (17%). The sector is coordinated by nurses, who are also responsible for bringing in clients. The work is performed by an interprofessional team that performs procedures of collecting material for lab examinations, dressing, deliver care with catheters and ostomies, as well as home hospitalization.