Primary Health Care and Coordination of Care: device to increase access and improve quality

The objective of this article is to investigate the viewpoint of health professionals regarding the coordination of care in Primary Health Care (PHC) and the challenges for performing it. Qualitative research with professionals from two PHC teams working in territories with vulnerabilities and inequalities in Rio de Janeiro. Use of the Content Analysis method, thematic modality with semi-structured interviews and participant observation. To coordinate care is to be involved with the activities that foster the provision of individualized and comprehensive care, aiming at the care continuity. The challenges of coordinating care by the PHC are overcoming the network fragmentation, the low supply of openings for specialists, the fragile communication between the services, the non-integrated electronic medical record, the low professional qualification and the unawareness of the PHC role by other services. The strengthening of the PHC as the gateway, coordinator and organizer of the network requires efforts by managers, professionals and society, so this way of organizing the systems can bring benefits regarding equity, accessibility, clinical and sanitary effectiveness, economic efficiency and allow care integration.