The Educational Program for Health Work (PET-Saúde) implements a policy to induce new relations between institutions of higher learning and the healthcare network. The University of São Paulo (Ribeirão Preto Campus) and the Ribeirão Preto Municipal Health Department, selected by PET-Saúde/2009, evaluated the case-resolving capacity of Primary Care Units (PC) and Family Health Strategy Units (FHS), as a contribution to upgrading primary care. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 health units (eight FHS and five PC), with participation by 216 students from various health fields, 30 preceptors (professionals) from the public health system, and five tutors (faculty members). Data were collected from 12,494 patient consultations, of which 7.129 (58.9%) were in FHS units and 4.963 (41.1%) in traditional PC units, consisting of 4,059 (33.6%) males and 8.035 (66.4%) females. The PC units referred more patients than the FHS units (OR = 1.67; 95%CI 1.46-1.90; [p < 0.05]). The specialties with the heaviest demand for referrals were ophthalmology, cardiology, and orthopedic. As a healthcare mode, the FHS units showed greater case-resolving capacity, and PET-Saúde appeared to be an important initiative, considering that it encourages this model's expansion.
primary health care; family health; health centers; Health Education Working
