During the 2023 International Hackathon, promoted by Harvard University, five Brazilian medical students presented an innovative proposal that could not only save millions to the Unified Health System (SUS), but also improve the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
The event, which had the theme “Digital Solutions for Building High-Value Health Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean”, received more than a thousand entries from 37 countries, but the application designed by the Brazilians secured first place.
The winning team, made up of first or second year undergraduate medical students, proposed the development of PulSUS, a mobile app aimed at optimizing the routine of cardiology professionals, especially those who work in Basic Health Units (UBS).
The group is made up of Karen Ribeiro, Laís Reis, Pedro Henrique Gunha Basilio, Marina Bassi and Victória Morbach Siebel.
Image: Blog Jaleko/Reproduction
Fits in the palm of your hand
One of the main features of the application is to provide doctors with a report on the population profile served by the UBS. For example: if the majority of PulSUS users in a given area are smokers, the application will indicate this pattern to the health unit.
Additionally, patients can record their symptoms and how often they take medications, allowing for more accurate monitoring.
This functionality is especially important when there is a long interval between appointments, as it prevents patients from forgetting details relevant to their treatment.
Another fundamental aspect of PulSUS is to provide doctors with updated data on the health status of each patient, preventing the professional from relying solely on information from exams performed months or even years before.
This aims to avoid the worsening of health conditions that could be prevented through adequate monitoring.
Savings in SUS services
The Brazilian team identified a worrying practice among patients, who only seek out UBS in emergency situations and fail to attend regular appointments. This results in critical health conditions that require hospitalization and generate high costs for the health system.
Reviewing estimates of SUS spending, the students found that R$37.1 billion is allocated to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases annually.
Most of this amount is related to hospitalizations and emergency treatments, while only R$11 billion goes to hospitalizations.
They calculated that between 15% and 20% of these hospitalizations could be avoided with adequate treatment and monitoring in primary health care, representing significant savings.
Encouragement for a healthier life
To encourage healthy habits and adherence to treatment, PulSUS uses gamification strategies and immediate rewards. Users accumulate “cardicoins,” a type of score that gives them access to discount coupons at gyms, grocery stores and other services.
In addition, the app promotes friendly competitions among users, encouraging correct medication adherence and healthy habits. This approach aims to overcome the lack of motivation often associated with drug therapy by offering tangible incentives.
The students recognize that accessibility is a major challenge for implementing the app. Although most Brazilians already have access to the internet and smartphones, it is necessary to consider the portion of the population that does not yet have these resources.
However, the team believes the main focus is on citizens with certain lifestyle habits that make them prone to cardiovascular disease, and most of them are likely to own a cell phone.
After winning the competition and receiving the $5,000 prize, the team is now working on the incubation phase of the project, aiming to put it into practice. Tests will be carried out and results will be collected for future implementation of the program in the country.
With PulSUS, it is expected to significantly improve medical monitoring, reduce costs related to cardiovascular diseases and promote a healthier life for the Brazilian population.
