James Macinko|Inês Dourado|Rosana Aquino|Palmira de Fátima Bonolo|Maria Fernanda Lima?Costa|María Guadalupe Medina|Eduardo Luiz Andrade Mota|Veneza Berenice de Oliveira|Maria Aparecida Turci
Major Expansion Of Primary Care In Brazil Linked To Decline In Unnecessary Hospitalization
New York University|Universidade Federal da Bahia|Universidade Federal da Bahia|Public Health Institute|Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto|Fundação Oswaldo Cruz|Universidade Federal da Bahia|Public Health Institute|Universidade Federal da Bahia|Public Health Institute|Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais|Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
1994 brazil launched since become worlds largest communitybased primary health care program family health program teams consisting least one physician one nurse medical assistant four six trained community health agents deliver services communitybased clinics also make regular home visits conduct neighborhood health promotion activities study finds 19992007 hospitalizations brazil ambulatory caresensitive chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease stroke asthma fell rate statistically significant almost twice rate decline hospitalizations causes municipalities high family health program enrollment chronic disease hospitalization rates 13 percent lower municipalities low enrollment factors held constant results suggest family health program improved health system performance brazil reducing number potentially avoidable hospitalizations