Effects of computer-based protocols of flow systems for organizing referral and counter-referral of ophthalmologic patients in the SUS

• Grant number: 11/17839-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Jayter Silva de Paula
• Grantee: Bruno Nascimento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Problems related to the access to the health services, through the current model of health care and based on the health system organization, are the focus of the present study of organization of the referral flow mechanisms within the different levels of the Brazilian "Sistema Ùnico de Saúde" (SUS).This purpose is motivated by the current challenges of SUS and aim increasing its capacity of resolution the major health issues, with the increase of the agility in resolving clinical cases. Although the health assistance network policies have been privileging in the last years by the development of the primary health care services, with some improvements in other levels of assistance, there are persistent problems in each level of assistance and in the hierarchical flow of patient. Those difficulties are universal, however several medical specialties, as ophthalmology, present major problems. We believed that most of these difficulties could be resolved with structured and computer-based flow systems for organizing referral and counter-referral, based on clinical guidelines based on ophthalmological sub-specialties and in the regional health assistance and local epidemiological profile. The implementation of this system and the analysis of its impact are the main objectives of the present study, in order to improve the health system, as an example for other medical specialties and also as a model for the SUS. (AU)