Construction and analysis of specialized care access performance indicators of SUS

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify information to be used in order to analyze the performance of access to secondary health care. The accesses to the specialty of digestive surgery of the Ribeirão Preto State Hospital (HERP) and the Américo Brasiliense State Hospital (HEAB) were analyzed. Thirty-one actors, in 16 health organizations, were interviewed, with the purpose of identifying performance indicators. The indicators identified for both were: ‘distribution of vacancies by municipality’, ‘situation after the first consultation’ and ‘requests for consultation (PI)’. In access to HERP, the ‘time for screening’ was added. The data for analysis were extracted from the Assistance Regulation Support System (Sara), used only to access the HERP; and the system of the Clinical Hospital of Ribeirão Preto Medical School (Athos module), used in both. This information can be useful for characterizing processes, comparing them and assist in the identification of improvement opportunities by making them more transparent to those involved. Efficient access allows rational use of resources and increased patient access to services, as it enables reduction of waste, idleness and waiting time.