Testing, Quarantine, and Telemonitoring of Covid-19 in Primary Care

Reflections on Management and Care Experiences

Abstract

The initial cases of Covid-19, originating in China, triggered a pandemic, exposing deficiencies in the healthcare system. The project "Expansion of Testing, Quarantine, and Telemonitoring Strategies to Contribute to Confronting the Covid-19 Pandemic in Brazil" emerged in response to this crisis. This article aims to recount the project's experience in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in primary healthcare. Monitors operated between June 2022 and February 2023 in Family Health Units and Basic Health Units in Salvador, Bahia. Their activities included supporting the implementation of the strategy, resource organization, conducting sociobehavioral research, and providing guidance to healthcare workers and users. The participation of monitors as intermediaries between healthcare professionals, bureaucratic demands, and users facilitated communication, testing, and research. Outreach strategies, such as meetings, local radio broadcasts, social media, and the distribution of pamphlets, resulted in increased community adherence to testing and participation in the research. However, challenges emerged due to insecurity in certain neighborhoods, impacting access to healthcare services. The contribution of monitors to the expansion of the strategy strengthened the research, enabling the systematization of care, dynamic operations, and ensuring qualified and safe attention.