The first training in Digital Health offered by RNP, in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), was concluded at the end of October with the important milestone of 54 project proposals prepared by 117 students. The second stage of the Digital Health Professional Update Program (PAP-SD) began in May, with classes for the three advanced courses being taught in the virtual learning environment of the Escola Superior de Redes (ESR). Learn more about the first stage

A webinar held on 12/15 marked the end of the day, with the presentation of the National coordinator of RUTE and manager of Relationship with the Health Community of RNP, Luiz Ary Messina, the specialist in Relationship with the Health Community of RNP, Paulo Lopes and RNP Health Community Relationship analyst Gilberto Vieira Branco. On the occasion, they were able to talk about some of the projects created by PAP-SD students and understand the paths for developing human resources training actions in the area of digital health. The virtual event was attended by MSc. Cristina Akemi Shimoda, who is the general coordinator of Digital Transformation at MCTI and sponsor of the project, and Dr. Silvana Gomes Benzecry, general coordinator of Telehealth at the Ministry of Health. 

“The PAP-SD offer was RNP’s contribution to the development of Priority 5: Training and capacity building of human resources for Digital Health, of the 2020-2028 Brazilian Digital Health Strategy of the Ministry of Health and had as an indicator the ICT Health research from CETIC.br, which highlighted the need for training human resources in the area of digital health. It is important to thank MCTI, who understood and supported the initiative whose objective was to contribute to the strengthening of RUTE through new collaborations and the dissemination of digital health content in an innovative way, and the students, who dedicated themselves and made it possible to understand the practice of digital health through proposing project ideas for both assistance, teaching, research and health, as well as for the dissemination of digital health in the different RUTE units”, highlights Gilberto Vieira.

About the projects
Of the 117 participants who completed the PAP-SD, 92 participated in the preparation of 54 project proposals, ideas that aim to benefit: health professionals (28); population (14); students and health professionals (7); community health agents (2); nursing technicians (2); municipal health advisors (1).

About PAP-SD
In the first stage of Basic Training in Digital Health, those enrolled had the opportunity to expand their knowledge repertoire based on an unprecedented model designed by experts from the Telemedicine University Network (RUTE/RNP), which has been operating in Brazil for 17 years.

The three courses (Basic Skills for Digital Health, Fundamentals for Digital Health and Applications for Digital Health) were offered in partnership with the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), in a self-instructional format, on a remote learning platform, in order to enable the student to be the protagonist of their learning itinerary and understand the fundamentals and applications. (Duration: 11/1/2022 to 4/28/2023)

In the second stage, the students best classified in stage 1 received support from tutors to carry out activities aimed at improving knowledge and developing the skills and attitudes necessary to work in digital health, on three fronts: assistance, research and teaching.

The tutorial courses Digital Health in Assistance, Digital Health in Research and Digital Health in Teaching were taught in the ESR virtual learning environment. (Duration: 5/29/2023 to 10/29/2023).

“MCTI is supporting RNP in the evaluation of the entire training program offered, with the aim of contributing to the identification and proposal of improvements for a new training offer in 2024. RNP will also continue discussing strategies to expand training actions in digital health, with the support of customers, institutions and partners. Soon, we will have news and we will publicize it to the interested community”, says RNP Solutions Manager Daniele Sodré.