Community Care Administration of Spinal Deformities in the Brazilian Public Health System

OBJECTIVE: Underfunding of the surgical treatment of complex spinal deformities has been an important reason for the steadily growing waiting lists in publicly funded healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to characterize the management of the treatment of spinal deformities in the public heal...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bressan-Neto, Mario, da Silva Herrero, Carlos Fernando Pereira, Pacola, Lilian Maria, Nunes, Altacílio Aparecido, Defino, Helton Luiz Aparecido
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
Repositorio:Clinics
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:revistas.usp.br:article/138274
Acceso en línea:https://www.revistas.usp.br/clinics/article/view/138274
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Spine
Waiting Lists
Scoliosis
Spinal Curvatures
Healthcare Financing
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVE: Underfunding of the surgical treatment of complex spinal deformities has been an important reason for the steadily growing waiting lists in publicly funded healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to characterize the management of the treatment of spinal deformities in the public healthcare system. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 60 patients with complex pediatric spinal deformities waiting for treatment in December 2013 was performed. The evaluated parameters were place of origin, waiting time until first assessment at a specialized spine care center, waiting time for the surgical treatment, and need for implants not reimbursed by the healthcare system. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of the patients lived in São Paulo State (33% from Ribeirão Preto - DRS XIII). Patients waited for 0.5 to 48.0 months for referral, and the waiting times for surgery ranged from 2 to 117 months. Forty-five percent of the patients required implants for the surgical procedure that were not available. CONCLUSION: The current management of patients with spinal deformities in the public healthcare system does not provide adequate treatment for these patients in our region. They experience long waiting periods for referral and prolonged waiting times to receive surgical treatment; additionally, many of the necessary procedures are not reimbursed by the public healthcare system.