Specialized medical care in primary care using telemedicine in Northeast Brazil: a descriptive study, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, 2022-2023.

Abstract

Objective: To describe an interconsultation project with specialists and family health teams participating in a telemedicine project in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Methods: Descriptive study with evaluation of TeleNordeste Project interconsultations. Data collection began in November 2022, with consultations with a cardiologist, neurologist, psychiatrist and endocrinologist made available to primary health centers. Patients over 18 years of age were included in the study. Quantitative data were described as medians and percentiles, qualitative data were measured in absolute frequency and percentage.

Results: 572 patients were included and carried out 847 consultations; 71% were women, the median age were 50 years, 96.7% of patients had chronic non-communicable diseases. The median of the waiting time for consultation was 7 days. In total, 565 patients had their complaints completely resolved and did not need to be referred to a specialized service.

Conclusion: The TeleNordeste Project brought to Rio Grande do Norte a type of medical care facilitated by digital health, with the possibility of agile contact and easy access in primary health care to cardiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists and endocrinologists, enabling improved care and increased effectiveness in real time.