Implementation of the Integrated System Full Capacity Plan by the Municipality of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To describe the implementation of the Integrated System Full Capacity Plan by the municipality of Belo Horizonte as a strategy for network-based hospital capacity management. Method: Descriptive methodological study based on adapting the Full Capacity methodology to a municipal regulation center. Data on emergency admission requests, hospital network characteristics, and bed distribution by specialty from 2023 to 2025 were analyzed. Results: The analyses supported the definition of five graduated contingency levels and the development of a progressive response model to monitor healthcare demand and guide actions according to system pressure. Implementation improved the predictability of admission flows, strengthened coordination among hospitals, and promoted more efficient use of available capacity. Conclusion: Adapting the Full Capacity methodology to municipal management strengthened hospital network governance and supported decision-making in healthcare overload scenarios.