Family Health Strategy in Florianópolis: integration, coordination and position in the local healthcare network

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the primary healthcare model in Florianópolis (Southern Brazil), based on the implementation of the Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF - Family Health Strategy), and also at analyzing its possibilities of conducting the health system organization regarding the integration to the service network with care coordination, from the perspective of the involved social actors. A case study was utilized as methodology, with quantitative and qualitative approaches, in which 789 families, 18 administrators/managers and 343 professionals answered a questionnaire. The analysis of the model was based on the following dimensions: position of the family health strategy in the care network; mechanisms for integration of the healthcare network; availability and use of information about the provided care; and integration of the ESF with public health programs and health surveillance actions. The results showed that more progress is needed to achieve these dimensions so that this becomes a strategy to reorganize the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS - Brazil's National Health System), with some impact on the conversion of the care model. Strengthening the Family Health Strategy in the position of preferred entrance door integrated to the network, with regulated referrals to specialized care, indicates future potential to reorient the organization of the system.