Access to orthopedic trauma services in the state of Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Introduction: There is a mismatch between the offer of services in orthopedics and the search in emergency rooms for trauma. Objective: Thus, the objective was to analyze the time between access to the post-orthopedic trauma hospital service and the evaluation by the orthopedist for the appropriate referrals to SUS in the state of Rio Grande do Norte from 2017 to 2018. Methodology: To this end, a documentary investigation was developed, where data from the state regulation system on the schedules for evaluation in orthopedics and on the profile of individuals seeking the service were analyzed by calculating the measures of central tendency. Results: In RN, in 2017, of the 499 records in orthopedics regulation, two were evaluated (0.4%). In 2018, of 688, 149 were evaluated (21.6%), with an average of 67 days of waiting. In Natal, the average waiting time for consultation was 119 days and, in 2018, 22 days. Conclusions: There is a failure in the opportunity for care, using the parameter from 5 to 10 days after the trauma for referrals.

Keywords: Health Care Coordination and Monitoring; Orthopedics; Traumatology; Health Services Accessibility.