Patient Safety in Primary Health Care: An experience report

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Primary Health Care-PHC is the care coordinator and gateway to the health care offered by the Unified Health System. The Family Health Units offer disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment services, such as health promotion programs. Thus, the teaching-service integration becomes fundamental to strengthen actions. OBJECTIVE: To report interventions carried out in Basic Health Units in the city of Caicó by members of the Extension “Training in patient safety with health professionals” at the State University of Rio Grande do Norte. METHOD: This is an experience report of extension workers in relation to health actions carried out in Basic Health Units in the municipality of Caicó. RESULTS: Permanent education is considered to drive structuring changes in the service, thus, for carrying out the interventions, the suggestions proposed by health professionals and the actions carried out under the logic of health education were relevant. In unit 2, interventions were aimed at the conscious use of drugs, using the professionals' prior knowledge. In team 1, health actions were necessary to assist in accepting spontaneous demand. Units 3 and 4 required the implementation of a fall prevention protocol and safe medication. CONCLUSION: The patient safety issue is little explored in primary health care, the institutionalization of the patient safety culture involves changes in practices and implementation of protocols focused on safe and qualified care.