Health warns residents to avoid missing appointments and exams

03/21/2023

Patients must inform units 48 hours in advance that the schedule cannot be met to avoid long waiting times for future care.

The Regulation Sector of the Municipal Health Secretariat requests the cooperation of the population to reduce the rate of absenteeism in the public network of the municipality. The indicator, which is currently around 30%, reveals the number of missed appointments and scheduled exams in health units in Suzano and even in those outside the municipality. In some units, the volume recorded one absence for every three scheduled patients, hurting the flow of care. With the expectation of notification of the futility of attending a Basic Health Unit (UBS) or Family Health Unit (USF), the frequency of consultations is improved and another resident who needs a consultation or examination may be admitted more quickly.

The Organizing Coordinator of the Secretariat, Paula Ramos Froes, stressed that it is essential for users of the system to be aware of the importance of reporting the impossibility of implementing the agenda. “When a patient is absent, their mentor receives a matching stamp and must enter the waiting list again after making another clue. If there is a withdrawal notice, that patient’s care will have priority in opening future vacancies,” she warned.

Another aggravating factor noted by the coordinator is the difficulty in ensuring agility in the care flow. “In addition to the person no longer receiving the care that Medicare provides, it removes the vacancy from those who wait. This problem has occurred at all levels of health care, from basic to specialized. Sometimes we call the patient, and he confirms the appointment or examination, but he doesn’t Turn up anyway,” Paula explained.

The appropriate procedure in these cases is to announce the withdrawal of the consultation or examination at UBS or USF 48 hours before the scheduled date, that way there will be enough time to replace it with another patient in the system. Passed to the computerized system, the company must be passed, even if the appointments are for units outside the municipality. A list of addresses and telephone numbers can be found at https://www.suzano.sp.gov.br/web/saude/unidades-basicas-de-saude/lista-de-enderecos/.

The problem can get worse when, in the State Department of Health, it is seen that services are not being carried out in view of the vacancies offered. The regulation reported that there may be a decrease in the provision of care in the units because the statistics reveal a lack of attendance at consultations and examinations. The result may be that vacancies are given priority to other municipalities, for example, in the case of assistance in regional reference units.

The Minister of Health, Pedro Ishi, has asked residents to create the habit of canceling consultations and exams when they are unable to attend. “In some cases, in our municipality there are few vacancies for very competitive examinations. Thus, if someone does not appear, it may harm someone else who needs this examination very much. If everyone can notify the absence in advance, we will be able to serve our people more quickly Ishi confirmed.