O gênero prontuário na esfera da saúde pública : do impresso ao digital

Abstract

Digital transformations have been one of the most striking manifestations of the 21st century, impacting several areas of society, including public health. Considering this context, the present work seeks to analyze the changes that occurred in the medical records genre, in the computerization process of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). To achieve this, we seek to discuss the definition of textual genre, with a specific focus on the contributions of studies related to the emergence of digital genres; identify significant changes regarding the structure and content of the medical record genre, considering its printed and digital versions; and, finally, highlight the benefits of electronic medical records in terms of data storage and accessibility in the public health network. This is a qualitative research, conducted in a documentary and bibliographical manner, based on the analysis of printed records and electronic records of SUS primary health care. As theoretical foundations, there are: the theoretical perspective of Bakhtin (1997), Marcuschi (2002), Machado (1999), Koch and Elias (2010), Xavier (2005) and Coscarelli (2006, 2009), among others. Through the contributions of these authors and the analysis of medical records, it was possible to understand the evolution of this genre from printed to digital format and the possible implications for improving public health information systems. The research highlights the importance of considering the social implications of the transition to digital medical records, which promises to improve healthcare services with proper implementation. Coscarelli (2009) raises questions about the relationship between text and hypertext, and how this change in format affects the reading and writing processes. She questions whether hypertext is usefully different from conventional text, whether reading and writing practices are different in this environment, and whether, in the end, we still deal with text.