After being implemented in 2020 in Brazil and providing a positive result, the online service tool has become a reality in Criciúma.
The long lines for scheduling appointments should gradually disappear. This is the purpose of TeleSaúde, which operates via WhatsApp at (48) 3445-8400. The pilot project was officially launched on the night of Wednesday the 11th of this month in the Santo Antonio neighborhood, where the Basic Health Unit (UBS) will be the lead.
The Santo Antonio neighborhood has an average population of 10,000. Of these, an average of 5,800 were enrolled in the health unit. The tool is now available and the service will only be redirected to residents registered in the unit.
The services provided through TeleSaúde are: medical care, renewal of prescriptions, return of test results, scheduling of appointments / procedures in the health unit and information about the municipal health system.
According to TeleSaúde coordinator, Marina Herath, the online service will complement the unit’s service aimed at providing basic care.
He explained, “The patient will call the number via WhatsApp, and he will answer some questions about basic information such as name and date of birth, and he will select the option he wants.” Next, the patient undergoes triage and is referred for online medical care, or for face-to-face care if needed. It is also possible to make referrals for exams and deliver prescriptions online.
According to the Minister of Health, Arleu da Silveira, the tool should be extended little by little to other health units in the city. The tool was developed by the IT team of the City of Criciúma and is funded by the municipality’s own resources.
“It is a very simple way for citizens who need a health procedure to talk to the area specialists. There are six nurses and eight doctors rotating care online. A person will be able to get these referrals without having to go to the primary health care unit,” the secretary emphasized.
Mayor Clicio Salvaro, during the launch, emphasized the human service that health should become. “The desire of the mayor and the team is to provide the best for the residents,” he said. The TeleSaúde service will be carried out Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Photo: Health team and authorities during the official launch event of the pilot project
Check out the explanatory video produced by the municipal government:
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