[Analysis of the implementation of the TeleHealth Program in Pernambuco State, Brazil: a case study]

Abstract

The Network of TeleHealth Centers (RedeNutes) is part of the TeleHealth Brazil Program and conducts activities for the Family Health Strategy through the telecare and teleeducation services. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of implementation of RedeNutes in six municipalities (counties) in Pernambuco State. This was an evaluation study analyzing implementation in the second component, referring to analysis of the impact of implementation on the observed effects, backed by the multiple case study strategy. The analysis involved the manager, municipal, and global dimensions and their components: planning, development, portal, telecare, and teleeducation. In the Manager dimension, the degree of implementation was considered implemented; in the Municipal and Global dimensions, partially implemented; in the TeleCare component it was not implemented. In conclusion, TeleHealth can help improve comprehensive healthcare for the assisted population, but it requires overcoming problems with adherence to the intervention, especially in TeleCare.