Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators

Introduction: Characteristics of primary health care and emergency services may hamper their integration and, therefore, reduce the quality of care and the effectiveness of health systems. This study aims to identify and analyse policy, structural and organizational aspects of healthcare services th...

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Main Authors: Liza Yurie Teruya Uchimura, Andrea Tenório Correia da Silva, Ana Luiza d´Ávila Viana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2018-11-01
Series:International Journal of Integrated Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ijic.org/articles/4066
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author Liza Yurie Teruya Uchimura
Andrea Tenório Correia da Silva
Ana Luiza d´Ávila Viana
author_facet Liza Yurie Teruya Uchimura
Andrea Tenório Correia da Silva
Ana Luiza d´Ávila Viana
author_sort Liza Yurie Teruya Uchimura
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Characteristics of primary health care and emergency services may hamper their integration and, therefore, reduce the quality of care and the effectiveness of health systems. This study aims to identify and analyse policy, structural and organizational aspects of healthcare services that may affect the integration between primary health and emergency care networks. Theory and Methods: We conducted a qualitative research study based on grounded theory that included: (1) interviews with 30 health care leaders; and (2) documental analysis of the summaries of Regional Interagency Committee meetings from two regions in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Results: The integration between primary health and emergency care network is inefficient. The barriers that contributed to this situation are as follows: (1) policy: the municipal health department is responsible for providing primary health care and the regional health department provides emergency care, but there is a lack of space for the integration of services; (2) structural: distinct criteria for planning mechanisms; and (3) organizational: ineffective point of interaction between different levels of the health system. Conclusions and discussion: Our findings have implications for health management and planning in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) with suggestions for interventions for overcoming the aforementioned barriers.
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spelling doaj.art-f0ee71f35c724c6a943cdd11ddff3d2d2022-12-22T00:42:35ZengUbiquity PressInternational Journal of Integrated Care1568-41562018-11-0118410.5334/ijic.40664070Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and FacilitatorsLiza Yurie Teruya Uchimura0Andrea Tenório Correia da Silva1Ana Luiza d´Ávila Viana2Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao PauloDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo; Faculty of Medicine Santa MarcelinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao PauloIntroduction: Characteristics of primary health care and emergency services may hamper their integration and, therefore, reduce the quality of care and the effectiveness of health systems. This study aims to identify and analyse policy, structural and organizational aspects of healthcare services that may affect the integration between primary health and emergency care networks. Theory and Methods: We conducted a qualitative research study based on grounded theory that included: (1) interviews with 30 health care leaders; and (2) documental analysis of the summaries of Regional Interagency Committee meetings from two regions in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Results: The integration between primary health and emergency care network is inefficient. The barriers that contributed to this situation are as follows: (1) policy: the municipal health department is responsible for providing primary health care and the regional health department provides emergency care, but there is a lack of space for the integration of services; (2) structural: distinct criteria for planning mechanisms; and (3) organizational: ineffective point of interaction between different levels of the health system. Conclusions and discussion: Our findings have implications for health management and planning in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) with suggestions for interventions for overcoming the aforementioned barriers.https://www.ijic.org/articles/4066integrated careprimary health careemergency caresystems integrationhealth systemshealth policy
spellingShingle Liza Yurie Teruya Uchimura
Andrea Tenório Correia da Silva
Ana Luiza d´Ávila Viana
Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators
International Journal of Integrated Care
integrated care
primary health care
emergency care
systems integration
health systems
health policy
title Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators
title_full Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators
title_fullStr Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators
title_full_unstemmed Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators
title_short Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators
title_sort integration between primary health care and emergency services in brazil barriers and facilitators
topic integrated care
primary health care
emergency care
systems integration
health systems
health policy
url https://www.ijic.org/articles/4066
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AT andreatenoriocorreiadasilva integrationbetweenprimaryhealthcareandemergencyservicesinbrazilbarriersandfacilitators
AT analuizadavilaviana integrationbetweenprimaryhealthcareandemergencyservicesinbrazilbarriersandfacilitators