Emergency Care Units as hospitalization units: phenomena of the care flow in the emergency network

Abstract

Emergency Health Care delivery has been a major issue in the city of Rio de Janeiro was the target of investments and restructuring with the dissemination of Emergency Care Units (UPAs). Overcrowding, poor quality and integration compromise the conformation of this network. The aim was to analyze the organization and functioning of care flows established in the RUE, based on access to the hospital bed. Thirty-six interviews and data analysis of primary and secondary databases were performed, using descriptive statistics and exploratory analysis. Access to the hospital bed is infrequent, with only 13% of total requests being met. Bed requests from UPAs reached higher percentages, 40% for ICUs and 36% for general practice. However, the remaining 60% are usually discharged or die before reaching a hospital bed, turning UPAs into inpatient units. Another prominent phenomenon was the conflictual relationship between the prehospital components (primary care and UPA) in the dynamic of the Vaga Zero flow, compromising the continuity of care. It is necessary to improve the level of integration between units that make up the RUE, as well as to expand and qualify the hospital rearward.

Keywords:
healthcare coordination and monitoring; health services accessibility; emergency medical services; healthcare delivery