The current context of a pandemic and social isolation has posed several challenges to the practice of medicine, such as increased pressure from the public health system and a decrease in the workload and flow of patients in private doctors’ offices.
In order to ensure the care of the population, telemedicine gained prominence. But anyone who thinks that the distance service modality is new is wrong. The truth is that it is very old and there are laws that govern its use.
Legislation
In 2002, a resolution published by the CFM (n° 1643/2002) presented concepts of telemedicine, however, prohibited the practice in Brazil.
However, on March 23, 2020, the Ministry of Health, in agreement with the CFM, published an ordinance regulating the use of telemedicine in the country due to the current crisis.
Soon after, on March 31, 2020, the Senate approved the bill that allows remote assistance (Law No. 13,989) for any activity in the health area, provided that the professional is trained and has an active registration your Council.
Possibilities
Telemedicine makes it possible, through communication technologies, to connect doctors and patients from anywhere and can be applied in different ways: phone call, video call or apps. And, most importantly: it’s available to everyone!
According to the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), there are three types of telemedicine: teleguidance, telemonitoring and teleconsultation.
Teleguidance aims to guide and refer patients in isolation.
Telemonitoring is used both in hospitals and in homes so that the doctor can assess the patient’s health parameters.
Teleconsultation serves to exchange information between physicians or to aid diagnosis.
Public network
Nowadays, most health plans offer telemedicine, the SUS has also implemented a system of remote medical care, called TeleSUS.
To access this modality, the patient can contact by phone (136), online chat or through the Coronavirus SUS application. It can be used to answer questions and for pre-clinical care.
According to a survey by the Department of Primary Health Care of the Ministry of Health, until the beginning of May 2020, approximately 16 million remote consultations were carried out, resulting in more than 48 million people served throughout Brazil. Of the patients assisted, most were considered healthy, so they did not need to go to the hospital.