Evaluation of patient failure to attend scheduled exams and references in the Saco Grande health center - Florianópolis/Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

This study was undertaken with the objective of subsidizingthe discussions of the Saco Grande Local HealthCouncil (SGLHC) about the great number of patientswho fail to attend scheduled exams and references.1161 case files from the period August 2004 - April2006 were studied. 5% to 10% the appointments werenot met, figures which were lower than expected by theSGLHC and the Health Unit. The average waiting timefor referral was 7.8 months, highlighting the difficultythis population experiences. The main scheduling pointswere downtown (75%), Estreito neighborhood (11%)and University Hospital (5%). 80% were within easyreach for the study population. The study of scheduledappointment flows solved doubts about the reasons forand causes of the problem, besides being a monitoringtool for the Health Unit and the SGLHC.