Performance of the mobile emergency care service from the perspective of managers and professionals: case study in a region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the perspective of managers and professionals about the performance of the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) in the Grande ABC region. This is a qualitative case study based on the formulation of a theoretical-logical model of intervention and semi-structured interviews. The Theoretical-Logical Model translated the dimensions of SAMU analysis: regulation, care and management. The regulation process was understood as a strategic space where the judgment of the patient’s need and the ambulance dispatch time have the potential to influence the outcomes of the cases transported. In health care, the main themes that emerged were investment in the qualification of the team and in telemedicine with the perspective of improving the quality of care and making the diagnosis more accurate. In management, challenges such as integrating SAMU with tertiary centers, improving the information system, and monitoring and evaluation were highlighted aiming to qualify the regulatory processes by aligning them with the objectives proposed in the health policy. The set of data analyzed reinforces the capacity of the SAMU in emergency care in the region; however, the intervention needs to overcome important challenges in order to improve the prognosis of the cases transported.

Key words:
SAMU; Case study; Health management; Regulation