WEB-CONSULTATION- A TOOL TO MANAGE AND IMPROVE REHABILITATION PROCESS AT PATIENT'S HOME.

Author(s)

Franco Molteni, MD, Director, Mauro Rossini, Eng, Bioengineer, Giovanna Palumbo, MBA, Researcher Ospedale Valduce, Costamasnaga, Lecco, Italy

OBJECTIVES: Management of rehabilitation patients is a long term process that involve patients, family doctors, physicians, caregivers and rehabilitation structures. To supply a high level of assistance people involved in rehabilitation process need to share continuously information. Generally this means a lot of transfer of the patients from their home to rehabilitation centre and back, sometimes just to check that everything is going well. Logistic difficulties (i.e. distance, time, special means of transport, …) could disturb or at worst break off the rehabilitation process with a worsening of patient situation. The objective of this study is to set up a method that, when possible, “move information” instead of “move patients” METHODS: Using modern Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in particular broadband internet connection we set up a service of teleconsulting interned based. The service is realized using multimedia computer provided by microphone, speakers and webcam. The software that realize the connection called EW2 supplies a secure connection between patients and rehabilitation centre and, if necessary, also family doctor or other physician could be connected at the same time. The software is easy to use, free of charge for patient. RESULTS: About 30 patients discharged from our Centre with major disability or logistic problem are followed using web connection. During the connection physician can check patient general health conditions, discuss about rehabilitation program, check the correct usage of technical aid like brace, cane, respiratory device. If necessary physician can also train caregivers in using aid or in particular manoeuvres. CONCLUSION: ICT could be a good tool to remove “architectural feature” that can compromise the rehabilitation results. This tool is not substitutive of clinical examination but it's a way to rationalize resource. Patients give a positive feedback in term of facility, quality of care and improvement of their quality of life.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2007-09, ISPOR Latin America 2007, Cartagena, Colombia

Value in Health, Vol. 10, No. 6 (November/December 2007)

Code

PMC5

Topic

Patient-Centered Research

Topic Subcategory

Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes

Disease

Multiple Diseases

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