Unimed Goiânia Invests in Neuroprotection Technology, Transforming Neonatal Care in the Capital

Since 2021, more than 500 high-risk newborns have been monitored in real time during their first days of life across five hospitals in Goiânia. The technology, which combines continuous electroencephalography (EEG), video monitoring, and 24/7 remote specialist support, has reduced the average hospital length of stay by 5.72 days per patient per year, preventing more than 5,000 hospital bed-days and generating savings of R$19.47 million for the healthcare system.

Behind these numbers lies a strategic decision: Unimed Goiânia – Medical Work Cooperative, responding to the request of its member physicians, fully funds the service. Although not a legal requirement, this demonstrates the cooperative’s vision that high-quality care is a cornerstone for health promotion and for valuing both physicians and beneficiaries.

Implemented in partnership with PBSF (Protecting Brains & Saving Futures), the program combines technology and specialized expertise to enhance safety in neonatal care and provide better developmental outcomes for patients. The service is available in five accredited hospitals: Ela Maternidade, Hospital da Criança, Hospital Premium, Maternidade Amparo, and Hospital Santa Bárbara.

Neonatologist and Unimed Goiânia cooperative member Dr. Renata Lorenzetti highlights that the technology has become a differentiator in clinical practice:

We are able to identify seizures early, adjust treatments with greater precision, and improve prognoses. This represents a significant shift in neonatal care, allowing for more accurate and safer decisions for patients and their families.

Fellow neonatologist Dr. Paula Pires reinforces that continuous monitoring enables diagnosis even before clinical signs appear:

We have had cases in which we were able to detect silent seizures and intervene quickly. This capability completely changes the outcome and underscores the importance of integrating technology and specialized teams in newborn care.

For hematologist and cooperative member Dr. Marcela Regina Araújo, the project reflects the cooperative’s vision:

This investment was not mandatory, but it was a decision aligned with Unimed’s purpose of providing high-quality care. By responding to the demand of our own physicians and investing in the right technology, we strengthen the physician’s role and ensure safer care for beneficiaries.

The case of Bianca, born in 2021 weighing only 580 grams, illustrates the results achieved. An extremely preterm infant, she came into the world on the very same day that Unimed Goiânia launched its neuromonitoring protocol in a network hospital. During her months of hospitalization, the equipment was used at several key moments: shortly after birth, during the management of a congenital heart disease, and in the postoperative period following a procedure to close the ductus arteriosus.

Continuous brain monitoring enabled the immediate identification of complications, guided medical decision-making, and allowed for adjustments in medication use, which were decisive for her positive outcome. Today, Bianca lives a healthy life with no developmental delays.

The technology was essential for her treatment and gave us security during a very delicate moment - recalls her mother, Polliany Alves.