Challenges in the process of implementation of electronic health records in Primary Health Care in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the challenges in the process of implementing electronic medical records in Primary Health Care in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The study has a cross-sectional design and applies content analysis on a corpus formed by responses given by managers of municipal health departments. Data collection was performed using an electronic form. Three categories of macro meanings were identified: difficulty in implementation with healthcare professionals, difficulty in infrastructure and resources, and difficulty in interoperability and management. Based on the knowledge of the opinion of municipal managers about the challenges in the process of implementing the electronic medical record in Primary Health Care, the analysis of the challenges and macro meanings encountered is intended to facilitate the understanding of the municipal scenario in the face of a new work tool proposed at the national level, and can serve as a planning tool in places that intend to or are experiencing this process.