Telecardiology in Italy: Benefits from a telemedicine network
connecting chronic patients, General Practitioners and Health
Provider Organisations, Lombardy region, Italy
This case was undertaken by the eHealth Impact team on behalf of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), London.
The Health Telematic Network and the Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri gradually extended the initial telecardiology service, set up in 1998 for the Boario Home Care Project, to more locations in Lombardy. The philosophy behind this expansion was to convert evidence from clinical trials and research into benefits for everyday practice. The Lombardy Region authorities have commissioned an expansion of the service from 2006 on to cover the whole region.
Three different types of services are now available. One is a service to provide a rapid second opinion for general practitioners. The second type of services is home telenursing for chronic patients. The third service is a call centre service for hospitals. The service centre provides technological and organisational support, while the hospitals’ cardiologists and nurses manage healthcare activity.