Myocardial revascularization: Patient referral and counter-referral in a hospital institution

Abstract

Objective: to understand the referral and counter-referral process experienced by the patient with coronary artery disease undergoing surgery for myocardium revascularization. Methods: qualitative research, anchored on the Grounded Theory. The research scenario was a public hospital institution, reference in cardiovascular care in the State of Santa Catarina, (Brazil). The data collection took place between March 2013 and June 2014, through a semi-structured interview involving 21 participants, distributed in three sample groups (patients, health professionals and management professionals). Results: the process of referral and counter-referral points to the phenomenon “High complexity emerging as a reference for the person submitted to myocardial revascularization in view of the Primary Health Care fragility in the follow-up and articulation with other care levels in the Sistema único de Saúde (Unified Health System)", supported by five categories. Conclusion: in order to this referralto occur, there is a need to consolidate the patient’s relationship with the coronary disease with the primary health care, since they face difficulties in monitoring their condition in the public network. In the counter-referral, the disarticulation between the health care services was evidenced, which affects the care regarding the person submitted to myocardial revascularization in the maintenance of their quality of life.