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Gios L, Crema Falceri G, Patil L, Testa S, Micocci S, Sforzin S, Turra E, Conforti D, Malfatti G, Moz M, Nicolini A, Guarda P, Bacchiega A, Mion C, Marchesoni M, Maimone R, Molini PB, Zanella A, Oscar MI, Forti S
Use of eHealth Platforms and Apps to Support Monitoring and Management of Home-Quarantined Patients With COVID-19 in the Province of Trento, Italy: App Development and Implementation
Using eHealth platforms and Apps to support monitoring and management of home-quarantined COVID-19 patients. Insights from the experience of the Province of Trento, Italy
Lorenzo Gios;
Giulia Crema Falceri;
Luigi Patil;
Sara Testa;
Stefano Micocci;
Simona Sforzin;
Ettore Turra;
Diego Conforti;
Giulia Malfatti;
Monica Moz;
Andrea Nicolini;
Paolo Guarda;
Alessandro Bacchiega;
Carlo Mion;
Michele Marchesoni;
Rosa Maimone;
Pietro Benedetto Molini;
Alberto Zanella;
Mayora-Ibarra Oscar;
Stefano Forti
ABSTRACT
Background:
The large majority of patients infected by the latest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reports mild symptoms and are usually recovering at their home (quarantine). A proper monitoring of such patients through a system user-friendly for patients and sustainable for healthcare staff is a key aspect to prevent potential worsening of symptoms and to ensure proper medical interventions.
Objective:
The aim of this work was to pilot a telemedicine technical and organizational model specifically designed to provide dedicated healthcare staff with a sustainable and reliable tool for periodically monitoring patients with progressive COVID-19 who are home-quarantined.
Methods:
An easy-to-use App was purposely developed to facilitate the monitoring of a selected number of home-quarantined patients affected by COVID-19. The App was accurately linked with a pre-existing e-health platform adopted by the local health trust to provide home care, allowing: (i) proper and safe link of collected data with demographic and clinical information related to the patients; (ii) a two-way communication between a multidisciplinary healthcare team and home-quarantined patients. The system supported patients to self-assess their conditions and to update the multidisciplinary team on the health status. The system was piloted between March and June 2020, in the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy).
Results:
A dedicated multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals adopted the platform over a period of approximately 3 months (from end of March to June 2020) to monitor a total of 170 patients with confirmed COVID-19 while in home-quarantine. All the patients used the system until the end of the study.
Conclusions:
The technological and organizational model adopted in the context of this piloting has proved to be acceptable for both patients and health care staff when monitoring the progression of COVID-19 during the quarantine period. The system was purposely developed to pilot an innovative system supporting healthcare staff involved in the periodic monitoring of a relevant number of quarantined patients. Clinical Trial: NA
Citation
Please cite as:
Gios L, Crema Falceri G, Patil L, Testa S, Micocci S, Sforzin S, Turra E, Conforti D, Malfatti G, Moz M, Nicolini A, Guarda P, Bacchiega A, Mion C, Marchesoni M, Maimone R, Molini PB, Zanella A, Oscar MI, Forti S
Use of eHealth Platforms and Apps to Support Monitoring and Management of Home-Quarantined Patients With COVID-19 in the Province of Trento, Italy: App Development and Implementation