A research by Altems-Universit Cattolica surveyed 285 of them. The analysis also reveals deficiencies in terms of information for recipients and difficulties in using
Over the next 18 months Healthcare companies, hospitals and nursing homes plan to launch telemedicine projects. In one of the many declinations of the tele prefix (visit, monitoring, consultation, collaboration)not forgetting for he sorts (evaluation and rapid selection of patients in the emergency phase) e integrated home care. This was stated by 60% of the heads of 128 healthcare companies (representing 327 units) involved in a study on the telemedicine solutions implemented and / or under development launched by Altems Health Information Systems Laboratoryin collaboration with the Center for Research and Studies in Health Management (Cerismas) of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. The aim of the investigation was to obtain a snapshot of the current scenarios.
The pandemic has been a booster
If it is true that the
the pandemic has marked a turning point in the use of remote medicine
, the research finds that only 53% of those reported were started during the same. Therefore, the interest in these solutions had already existed for some time and now the National Indications on the provision of telemedicine services and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan offer the tools to consolidate them.
Considering the need for extreme rapidity in implementation, the solutions implemented have come true based on very different tools and technologies (starting from simple telephone contact) and have been largely limited to supporting individual care and assistance activities, regardless of the overall context of the patient’s care path, they explain Fabrizio Massimo Ferrara, Andrea Fracasso and Sara Consilia Papavero of Altems.
The main objective now must therefore be to
“Systematize” what has been created under the pressure of the emergency
to integrate the solutions created within the clinical-care processes and to be able to capitalize on the results achieved by using them as a basis for the subsequent steps of digital evolution of the healthcare system, they add.
Ancient evils
Of the 285 telemedicine solutions describedtwo thirds are dedicated to remote support and interaction with patients and the others to forms of collaboration with the socio-health services of the area. From the analysis they emerge for a series of already known evils: the organizational structure of the companies interviewed is not particularly complete and homogeneous, in particular as regards attention to the more strictly clinical and care aspects.
Also the more structural elements of the health information system as a whole are largely fragmentedso as to significantly affect the continuity of clinical-organizational processes both within the structure and, even more so, in the developments in the area.
Too many applications, the majority of the data still on paper
All this in an inevitable proliferation of applications: 60% of companies unable to specify the number of those (and databases) existing in the company; in the remaining 40% of cases it is indicated approximately an average of about 40 distinct systems, with peaks of over 100. Without considering all those purely local applications, for example for interaction with single shared devices (ultrasound scanners, electrocardiographs, etc.), which are increasingly widespread and relevant. Consequence of this scenario that paper management remains predominant and that two thirds of companies report that they manage less than 50% of patients’ health data in digital form. In this context, without a strategy of integration and data sharing, the digital transition presents itself as a long and very complex process.
The role of patients
But what do the patients think? Looking at the associations that represent them, the consensus seems to be broad. A survey entitled The health of the future. Patient Association Messages for the Covid-19 Eraconducted by the Patient advocacy lab (Pal) of Altems – Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, confirms that the associations themselves indicate the use of telemedicine as one of the priorities of a renewed health service. The results of the Altems survey speak of difficulties and poor patient involvement: little information dedicated to them and problems in the use of systems and devices. The same survey then notes that only in 18% of cases patient associations related to the pathology treated were involved, underlines Teresa Petrangolinidirector of Patient advocacy lab.
So we are facing a viable path, even desired. But it will not become a practiced path if the healthcare companies do not understand that, in addition to improving their internal organization, they are called to involve patients by putting them in a position to know, understand and hope for the use of telemedicinegiving them the most suitable tools, respecting their needs, adds Petrangolini.
March 17, 2022 (change March 17, 2022 | 19:22)
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