Process of organizing the work of the Expanded Family Health and Primary Healthcare Centers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this article is to identify organizational strategies and operational challenges to implement
the multidisciplinary work process of the Expanded Family Health and Primary Healthcare Center (NASF-AB)
teams in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. This is an integrative review study in the LILACS and
Science Direct databases, PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO),
Google Scholar and document review of technical publications (protocols, technical notes, letters, ordinances) on
the official website of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Thirteen studies were included and no technical documents
published by the Ministry of Health were located which dealt directly with the reorganization of the NASF-AB work
process during the pandemic. It was evidenced that the elements that make up the teamwork process have been
modified, such as interprofessional communication and collaboration, interdependence of actions and user-centered
care. During the course of the pandemic, a predominance of managerial rationality was noted, with a greater focus
on case screening and monitoring activities and clinical-assistance support to the detriment of technical-pedagogical
support to Primary Care (PC) teams, characterizing an underutilization of the potential of the multiprofessional
team within the scope of Primary Health Care.