Operation of the State Telehealth Center in the state of Ceará, Brazil, from 2015 to 2018

Abstract

Understanding that the performance and applicability of Telehealth, while diverse and essential for analysis, systematization and documentation of health education initiatives within the information and communication technology, this study aimed to analyze the activities conducted by the Telehealth Center of the Health Secretariat of the State of Ceará, Brazil, from 2015 to 2018. This quantitative, descriptive study identified 6,596 registered professionals, namely, nursing (35.9%), medicine (31.3%), and dentistry (18.9%), with the highest concentration in the Fortaleza macro-region (36.9%). A total of 1,392 teleconsulting requests were identified, 315 (22.6%) in 2015, 860 (61.8%) in 2016, 140 (10.1%) in 2017, and 77 (5.5%) in 2018, with a decline of 91.1% from 2015 to the last year. Three hundred eighty-two web lecture activities were held with the participation of 17,054 professionals. We concluded that the breadth and applicability of Telehealth in Ceará is relevant in the diversity and flexibility of actions. However, it is necessary to apprehend the meaning of the terminologies, for the conscious application of its tools. Finally, also in this context, it is crucial to break the paradigm that a professional category is the sole holder of knowledge and practice, as all categories that work in health can contribute to teleconsulting activities.