Mais Médicos Program in Bahia and the impact on early diagnosis of IAM: an experience report

Capable of solving nearly 80% of all health needs, Primary Care has become one of the main and most efficient strategies in the Unified Health System. Given the historic shortage and poor distribution of medical professionals in Brazil, the Mais Médicos Program made it possible to provide professionals in remote locations. In partnership with the National Telehealth Brazil Networks Program, diagnosis can reach all parts of Brazil, enabling treatment and control of pathologies with greater morbidity and mortality. One example is acute myocardial infarction, in which "time is life," because for every 10-minute delay in instituting reperfusion therapy, life expectancy is reduced by 120 days. Given this scenario, this paper reports on a successful experience that involved the resolutive articulation of the public health network from Primary Care and the More Doctors Program. This descriptive and qualitative study describes the prompt care of a patient with acute myocardial infarction in a rural area. Results shows that a resolutive Primary Care integrated with other levels of care is possible, allowing the infarcted patient to benefit in time from myocardial reperfusion and positively impacting their prognosis and quality of life. The experience encouraged continuous search to overcome and face the challenges, as well as to improve public health management.