DEVELOPING DIGITAL TOOLS IN MEDICAL EDUCATION: CONNECTING STUDENTS TO PRACTICE AND PATIENTS TO CARE SPECIALIZED
Keywords: Technology; Health Care Delivery; Secondary Health Care.
Digital technologies have emerged as promising tools for improving access to public health services, organizing demand, qualifying referrals, and enhancing communication between levels of care, thus contributing to a more equitable and effective management of available resources. This study aimed to develop a mobile application to facilitate access to medical specialties offered at a teaching clinic. This is a scientific and technological development research, characterized as descriptive and exploratory. The information supporting the application's development was derived from documentary analysis and the systematization of secondary institutional data. The application design followed principles of usability and accessibility, focusing on user experience, particularly for medical students and residents working in Primary Health Care (PHC). The prototype development followed the Systematic Instructional Design methodological framework. The primary outcome was the construction of an application that optimized the referral and counter-referral system between primary health care and secondary care services, such as teaching clinics. Furthermore, by integrating students into the use of digital technologies and applications during undergraduate and residency training, the application facilitates familiarity with digital tools that are already part of contemporary medical practice—a reality that must be addressed through teaching and learning starting from foundational training.