Efficiency of telemedicine in referral from primary to secondary and tertiary care in neurology in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Telemedicine is the practice of medicine mediated by digital information and communication technologies, for the purposes of care, education, research, disease and injury prevention, management and health promotion. One of its modalities is teleconsultation. Objective: Systematic and integrative review of the literature on the efficiency of telemedicine in referral from primary to secondary and tertiary care in Brazil, in the context of neurology. Method: The "PICO" search and analysis strategy was used, with the guiding question: "How efficient is telemedicine when applied as a tool to guide the referral of patients with neurological conditions from primary to secondary and tertiary centers?” using the descriptors “telemedicine, referral, Brazil, neurology, and consultation” in the boolean form “AND” and “OR”, in PubMed and BVS in English and Portuguese. Results: 16 articles were included. Conclusion: Research indicates that the use of telemedicine proves to be an important tool for improving the efficiency of referrals from primary to secondary and tertiary care, promoting cost reduction, reducing waiting lists and promoting alternative medical care for the population.