Assessment of the Implementation of the Computerized System of Enrollment and Follow-up of Hypertensive and Diabetics Patients (HIPERDIA) in the Municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

In 2005, the Ministry of Health suggested, as an additional indicator in the Pact of Primary Care Indicators (Pact), using the number of hypertensive and diabetic patients entered into a computerized system known as HIPERDIA, for the enrollment and follow-up of hypertensive and diabetics patients. Because during that year the number of enrollments made in the State of Rio de Janeiro (RJS) was considerably below estimate, the municipalities were each sent a questionnaire to evaluate the local implementation process of HIPERDIA. Seventy-two of the 92 (78.3%) questionnaires were returned from which 59/72 (82%) confirmed having the system installed, and 52/59 (88%) reported carrying out patient enrollments and entering data. Difficulties in registration and data entry were reported by 34/52 (65. 4%) and 19/52 (37%) municipalities respectively, related primarily to the work processes of the health teams and/or to lack of structure in the Hypertension and Diabetes Program (HA and DM). Contributing to the difficulties of HIPERDIA implementation in the state of Rio de Janeiro were: discontinuity of federal investments in the improvement of the system; the municipal turnover of coordinators of the HA and DM Programs and those responsible for HIPERDIA; the lack of on-going training, and difficulties in dialogue between the municipalities with the DATASUS technicians and state Coordination.