Background. A demanda por cuidados médicos especializados vem aumentando em todo o mundo. Analisamos uma iniciativa de telemedicina para reduzir o tempo entre encaminhamento e consulta especializada e o número de pacientes na fila de espera. Métodos. Um estudo retrospectivo com controles contemporâneos foi realizado entre junho de 2014 a julho de 2016. As especialidades selecionadas foram incluídas em uma intervenção de telemedicina e comparadas com as especialidades controle reguladas de forma padrão. Os pacientes de intervenção foram combinados com um conjunto aleatório de controles (proporção 1: 1) por semestre e ano de inclusão na lista de espera e pelo índice de demanda e oferta de consultas especializadas (número de pacientes na fila de espera em junho de 2014 dividido pela média de consultas médicas especializadas disponibilizadas durante os 25 meses que compõem o período de análise). A intervenção de telemedicina incluiu o desenvolvimento de protocolos de referência e classificação de risco de pacientes na fila de espera. O tempo de espera para a consulta presencial e a magnitude da diminuição do número de pacientes na fila no final da observação foram os desfechos primários. Resultados. Nefrologia, pneumologia, urologia, neurologia, neurocirurgia e reumatologia foram selecionados para a intervenção, para um total de 50.185 pacientes (idade média: 51,5 anos) versus 50,124 pacientes controles (idade média: 52,2 anos). O tempo médio para o agendamento de consultas foi de 583,5 dias no grupo de intervenção versus 599,8 dias nos controles (p <0,001). O volume da lista de espera diminuiu 61,4% no grupo de intervenção e 53,2% no grupo controle 13 (<0,001). Para pacientes de alto risco (grupo de intervenção apenas), o tempo médio entre encaminhamento e consultas foi de 235,43 dias. Conclusões. A intervenção de telemedicina foi eficaz para diminuir o tempo de espera, especialmente para indivíduos de alto risco, e número de pacientes em espera para consultas médicas especializadas, o que sinaliza um efeito positivo sobre a eficiência do sistema de saúde, com redução de tempo e custos de deslocamentos, além de potencializar a prevenção quaternária ao prevenir consultas desnecessárias com médicos especilaistas, por meio do melhor manejo dos médicos de atenção primária. / Background. The demand for specialist care is increasing worldwide. We tested a telemedicine initiative to reduce the time between referral and specialist appointment and the number of waitlisted patients. Methods. A retrospective trial with contemporaneous controls was conducted between June 2014-July 2016. Selected specialties were included in a telemedicine intervention and compared to control specialties covered by the usual gatekeeping program. Intervention patients were matched to a random set of controls (1:1 ratio) by semester and year of inclusion in the waiting list and by the specialty demand to supply ratio (number of waitlisted patients in June 2014 divided by the mean number of appointment slots during the 25 months comprising the period of analysis). The telemedicine intervention encompassed development of referral protocols and risk classification of waitlisted patients. Waiting time to face-to-face consultation and magnitude of decrease in the number of waitlisted patients at the end of the observation were defined as primary outcomes. Results. Nephrology, pulmonology, urology, neurology, neurosurgery, and rheumatology were selected for the intervention, for a total 50,185 patients (mean age: 51.5 years) vs. 50,124 patients controls (mean age: 52.2 years). Mean referralto- appointment time was 583.5 days in the intervention group vs. 599.8 days in controls (p<0.001). Waitlist volume decreased 61.4% in the intervention group and 53.2% in the control group (<0.001). For high-risk patients (intervention group only), mean time between referral and appointments was 235.43 days. 15 Conclusions. The telemedicine intervention was effective to decrease wait time, especially for high-risk individuals, and number of waitlisted patients, which signal a positive effect of e-consultations on the knowledge of primary care physicians, reducing time and travel costs and enhancing a quaternary prevention and avoiding unnecessary consultations. / Telemedicina

Orientador: Nemre Adas Saliba / Banca: Doris Hissako Sumida / Banca: Symone Cristina Teixeira / Resumo: Introdução: A rede de atenção à saúde maternoinfantil foi instituída em 2011 com a finalidade de promover melhorias na eficiência da gestão dos serviços, porém ainda se apresenta como um grande desafio para os gestores. Objetivo: Analisar a rede regional de atenção à saúde da gestante no SUS. Método: Trata-se de pesquisa de caráter transversal, quanti-qualitativa, tipo inquérito. Foram realizadas entrevistas com gestores de 28 municípios, do Ambulatório de Especialidades Médicas (AME) e do Departamento Regional de Saúde (DRS) II do estado de SP, totalizando 86 entrevistados. As variáveis pesquisadas foram: realização de atividade educativa no pré-natal, existência de protocolo de atendimento e encaminhamento, organização da atenção à saúde bucal e geral à gestante, pactuação das referências e funcionalidade do sistema de referência e contrarreferência. Realizou-se análise de conteúdo para as questões discursivas e triangulação entre as respostas obtidas nos municípios, AME e DRS. Resultado: Observou-se que 78,57% dos municípios realizam atividade educativa com gestantes; 42,86% não possuíam protocolo de atendimento implantado e em 57,14% não havia critérios de encaminhamento estabelecidos. Do total de gestores municipais, 53,57% afirmaram realizar testes rápidos para detecção de HIV, Sífilis e Hepatite B e C; 46,43% teste rápido de gravidez e 39,28% relataram avaliar a situação vacinal. Quanto à atenção odontológica primária, não havia protocolo instituído em 71,43% dos munic... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: The maternal and child health care network was established in 2011 with the purpose of promoting improvements in the efficiency of service management, but still presents a great challenge for managers. Objective: To analyze the regional health care network of pregnant women in SUS. Method: This is a cross-sectional, quantitative-qualitative research type survey. Interviews were carried out with managers from 28 municipalities, from the Ambulatory of Medical Specialties (AME) and from the Regional Department of Health (DRS) II of the state of São Paulo, totaling 86 interviewees. The variables studied were: performance of prenatal educational activity, existence of a referral protocol, organization of oral and general health care for the pregnant woman, agreement of references and functionality of the referral and counter-referral system. Content analysis was performed for the discursive questions and triangulation between the responses obtained in the municipalities, AME and DRS. Result: It was observed that 78.57% of the municipalities carry out educational activities with pregnant women; 42.86% did not have an implanted care protocol and in 57.14% there were no established referral criteria. Of the total of municipal managers, 53.57% affirmed to carry out rapid tests for the detection of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B and C; 46.43% rapid pregnancy test and 39.28% reported evaluating the vaccine situation. Regarding primary dental care, there was no protocol esta... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3552. Adviser: T. Robert Harris. Includes bibliographical references.

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No / OBJECTIVES: Legislation and health policy enabling nurses and pharmacists to prescribe a comprehensive range of medicines has been in place in the UK since 2006. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of prescribing by these professionals. METHODS: A modified version of the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) was used by 10 medical, seven pharmacist and three nurse independent raters to evaluate a sample of 100 audio-recorded consultations in which a medicine was prescribed by a nurse or pharmacist. Raters were current prescribers with recognized experience in prescribing. Consultations were recorded in nine clinical practice settings in England. RESULTS: Raters' analysis indicated that, in the majority of instances, nurses and pharmacists were prescribing clinically appropriately on all of the ten MAI criteria (indication, effectiveness, dosage, directions, practicality, drug-drug interaction, drug-disease interaction, duplication, duration, cost). Highest mean 'inappropriate' ratings were given for correct directions (nurses 12%; pharmacists 11%) and the cost of the drug prescribed (nurses 16% pharmacists 22%). Analysis of raters' qualitative comments identified two main themes: positive views on the overall safety and effectiveness of prescribing episodes; and potential for improvement in nurses' and pharmacists' history-taking, assessment and diagnosis skills. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses and pharmacists are generally making clinically appropriate prescribing decisions. Decisions about the cost of drugs prescribed and assessment and diagnostic skills are areas for quality improvement.

No / We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 68 patients who had been referred with an injury to the posterolateral corner of the knee to a specialist knee surgeon between 2005 and 2009. These injuries were diagnosed based on a combination of clinical testing and imaging and arthroscopy when available. In all, 51 patients (75%) presented within 24 hours of their injury with a mean presentation at eight days (0 to 20) after the injury. A total of 63 patients (93%) had instability of the knee at presentation. There was a mean delay to the diagnosis of injury to the posterolateral corner of 30 months (0 to 420) from the time of injury. In all, the injuries in 49 patients (72%) were not identified at the time of the initial presentation, with the injury to the posterolateral corner only recognised in those patients who had severe multiple ligamentous injuries. The correct diagnosis, including injury to the posterolateral corner, had only been made in 34 patients (50%) at time of referral to a specialist knee clinic. MRI correctly identified 14 of 15 injuries when performed acutely (within 12 weeks of injury), but this was the case in only four of 15 patients in whom it was performed more than 12 weeks after the injury. Our study highlights a need for greater diligence in the examination and investigation of acute ligamentous injuries at the knee with symptoms of instability, in order to avoid failure to identify the true extent of the injury at the time when anatomical repair is most straightforward.