STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN REFERENCE UNITS: IMPACTS ON EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY OF CARE
Keywords:
Strategic Planning, Health Management, Reference Units, Operational Efficiency, Quality of CareAbstract
This study analyzed the impact of strategic planning and management in reference health units, focusing on their influence on operational efficiency and quality of care. The research was based on an integrative literature review, combining theoretical data on health service management with continuous improvement practices and regulatory models of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Aspects such as performance indicators, referral and counter-referral flows, clinical protocols, integration of multidisciplinary teams, and the application of innovative management methods, including Lean Healthcare, were investigated. The results show that the use of indicators and standardized flows allows the identification of bottlenecks, resource optimization, and waste reduction, promoting greater problem-solving capacity and patient satisfaction. Coordination between primary and secondary care and access regulation helps prevent overload, duplicate care, and regional inequalities, strengthening continuity of care. Moreover, the integration of multidisciplinary teams and continuous professional training enhances communication, standardization of procedures, and error reduction, positively impacting care quality. Strategic management also proved essential to ensure patient safety, harmonizing administrative and clinical aspects in a sustainable model. Finally, the study demonstrates that strategic planning is a central instrument for improving the efficiency and quality of health services, providing managers with support for decision-making and the implementation of continuous improvement policies.
