Demanda reprimida de exames complementares na Equipe de Saúde III do Município de Coimbra-Minas Gerais: proposta de intervenção

Abstract

In this work let us investigate a repressed demand for Computerised Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonograpy tests in Family Health Team III of the Basic Health Unit Oraida Mendes Castro (Unidade Básica de Saúde – UBS) of the Brazilian Health System (SUS), from 2012 to 2019, in the city of Coimbra, State of Minas Gerais. Our purpose is to to develop an intervention plan for reduce the requests of complementary tests by Primary Health Care and, consequently, decrease the queue and unnecessary expenses with complementary tests. The methodology used the Strategic Planning and consisted of the following steps: situational diagnosis with recognition of the territory, identification of the main problems in the area covered by the Family Health Team III, literature review and preparation of the intervention plan. The complementary tests requests were collected at the Appointment Center of the UBS. They were separated by category and by year, in order to update the approximate number of users who are waiting for the tests in the analyzed period. Patients were called for a new consultation and answered a form of pre-established questions to standardize the services. The data were recorded and cataloged in a spreadsheet specifying the type of test, year of request and corresponding number of requests. The results indicated that: only 12.63% of the patients of Computerised Tomography, 26.31% of the patients of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 2.89% of the patients of Ultrasonography will remain in the queue until the test is taken. We concluded that there is a direct influence of cultural and professional aspects in relation to the request for tests. The need to establish clinical protocols for professionals of Primary Health Care is pointed out regarding the request for medium and high complexity tests, in order to standardize and better organize the health service, considering that inadequate requests generate damage to patients and the entire system. Therefore, there is a need to invest in professional training centered on the health care model proposed by the Family Health Strategy in Brazil, which gives more emphasis on the health promotion.