Audit of primary care electrocardiograms sent as emergency to a telehealth service - the Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais (TNMG) is a public telehealth service in Brazil that has performed electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis since 2005. From February to March 2014, 28% of ECGs were classified as "emergency" by the primary care tele-health sites. This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate the reasons behind the high number of emergency ECGs being sent in, the implementation of corrective actions, and an assessment of the impact of these actions. In the 1st phase, primary care units that sent &gt;70% of ECGs as emergency from February to March 2014 were selected. The 2nd phase consisted of the intervention. In the 3rd phase, the proportion of ECGs sent as an emergency during the 1st and 2nd months post intervention were assessed. Of the 63 cities selected during the 1st phase, 50% of the practitioners did not know the proper definition of emergency. After the intervention, 67% of the cities had a significant reduction in the proportion of ECGs sent as an emergency during the 1st month, and 17% had a significant reduction during the 2nd month.
Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Teleheatlh Network of Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Milena S
MS
Marcolino
Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Teleheatlh Network of Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Bárbara C
BC
Carvalho
Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Teleheatlh Network of Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Aline M
AM
Lucena
Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Teleheatlh Network of Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Ana Luiza N
AL
França
Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Teleheatlh Network of Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Cristiane G
CG
Pessoa
Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Teleheatlh Network of Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Daniel S
DS
Neves
Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Teleheatlh Network of Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Maria Beatriz M
MB
Alkmim
D001938:Brazil; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*