["User embracement" and the working process in health: Betim's case, Minas Gerais, Brazil]

The subject of this paper is changes in health care when "user embracement" is used as a strategic aim. According to the "user embracement" concept, health care clients are the center of the health services' organization, including the following: 1) care for everyone seeking it, thus guaranteeing universal accessibility; 2) reorganization of the work process, such that its central thrust is shifted from the physician to the multiprofessional staff, or "user embracement team", in charge of "hearing" users and becoming involved in solving their health problems; and 3) solidarity, humanity, and citizenship as parameters for the relationship between health care users and providers. The research showed improvement of non-medical health care productivity and greater accessibility by users. After nine months, the "user embracement team" solved 50% of the health problems themselves. The above-mentioned effects were also linked to workers' motivation, leading to greater creativity in the work process.