Advanced Access in a Family Health Unit in the countryside of the State of São Paulo: an experience report

Abstract

Advanced Access is an appointment organization method in primary health care units that preaches the maxim "Do today's work today!". It actively seeks to reduce the repressed demand for care, reduce absenteeism and increase access to users of the Brazilian health system (SUS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the Advanced Access in a Family Health Unit. Using data from SIAB, E-SUS and physical appointment books, the number of visits, number of absences, number of referrals, and the time between patient reception and care between May 2015 and May 2017, before and after the implementation of Advanced Access respectively, were compared. The average waiting time between the patient's demand for the unit and his appointment dropped from 12.45 days in May 2015 to 0.33 days in May 2017. The absence rate decreased from 13.57% to 4.20%. The number of referrals increased from 9 to 41 (increase rate of 455.55%). Finally, attendance increased from 221 to 458 (increase rate of 207.23%).