SUS health posts will have virtual consultations; focus on chronic patients – General

The patients of the Unified Health System (SUS) will be able to have virtual consultations in the primary health care posts, starting in May.

The initiative will allow health professionals to have access to a platform for virtual medical, nursing and multiprofessional consultations.

The The Virtual Office is one of the strategies of the Ministry of Health to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus. and provide assistance to the population, in addition to investing in telemedicine and telehealth solutions.

A The online tool will help healthcare professionals carry out teleconsultations, continue the care of patients with hypertension and diabetes, among other conditions, agile, comfortable and safe.

About 20 thousand doctors and nurses Those who work in family health units across the country will have Access and training for navigation in the system. They will also have Technical support and maintenance 24 hours. The professionals who join will receive, for free, the certification for the practice of telemedicine and telehealth.

The Virtual Office platform is yet another action among TeleSUS services. The population already has preclinical care by phone, online chat and application, being possible to be monitored and monitored remotely in suspected cases of COVID-19.

For health professionals there is a telephone channel to answer questions with other professionals and clarify diagnoses.

Investing in technology is an efficient strategy to reduce the spread of the virus and minimize the indirect impacts caused by the pandemic, such as postponing visits related to other diseases, especially chronic ones.

Erno Harzheim, National Secretary for Primary Health Care,

The Consultório Virtual is a partnership between the Secretariat of Primary Health Care (SAPS) and the Albert Einstein Hospital, through the SUS Institutional Development Support Program (PROADI-SUS) and the estimated amount for execution is R $ 4,023 million.

With TeleSUS services, the population can receive care and remove doubts about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 without leaving home. With the Virtual Family Health Clinic, patients will be able to continue monitoring chronic conditions and other problems. with the teams that already know them and with those that have a strong relationship of attention.

“Countries that are achieving greater success in fighting infection with the new coronavirus use telemedicine and telehealth strategies such as central instrument for the identification, orientation, assistance and follow-up of cases “, explains the SAPS secretary.

The recommendation is that, through remote consultations, during the Public Health Emergency of National Importance (ESPIN), if Avoid, whenever possible, exposure of the population and health professionals to the virus.

The project, in addition to enabling the Virtual Consulting platform, will provide security for all, allow the signing with digital certification of ICP-Brazil for primary care physicians.

The first version of the platform will be initially available for doctors, with expansion for nurses and a multi-professional team, in the second half of May.

The platform will allow doctors and primary care professionals to register the consultation remotely, issue certificates and receipts and send an email address for video conferencing with your patients.

The data will be validated and the platform support will contact you, by email or by phone, to issue the digital certification, which will be free and with validity of five years

For professional protection, the certification will be carried out remotely, due to Provisional Measure No. 951, of April 15, 2020. The project also in the coming months the availability of an application and an email address for virtual programming, access to clinical information, certificates and prescriptions.

The teleconsultation will be carried out through the channel with which the patient has the most affinity, and can be done by phone or videoconference. The choice for the type of service modality is conditioned to the clinical situation, and the decision depends on the professional and the person to be served.

At the end of the service, the patient will receive the result of the consultation in the email and satisfaction survey.

The citizen can request assistance by spontaneous or scheduled demand, making a request to schedule a remote consultation for the health team normally responsible for their care.