Telemedicine is not a future promise: it is an operational reality rapidly transforming how home care is delivered and monitored. Video consultations, remote monitoring, remote professional consultations and remote care are tools that increase responsiveness, reduce distances and improve continuity of care.
Nursing and medical video consultations
Video consultations allow structured visual contact between professionals and patients without the need to travel. They are particularly useful for follow-up of stable conditions, assessment of non-urgent symptoms, therapeutic education and psychological support. In Italy, the 2022 Prime Ministerial Decree on telemedicine defined the regulatory framework for its delivery within the SSN.
Remote monitoring: from reactive to proactive care
Wearable devices, environmental sensors and apps for monitoring vital signs: remote monitoring transforms care from reactive (intervening when a problem is already apparent) to proactive (detecting deterioration before a crisis). It is particularly effective in heart failure, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
Integration with in-person care
Telemedicine does not replace in-person consultations: it complements and optimises them. A hybrid model — video consultations for routine monitoring and physical visits for assessment and practical interventions — maximises the efficiency and quality of home care.
📚 Scientific evidence
- Ministerio della Salute (2022). Indicazioni nazionali per l’erogazione di prestazioni in telemedicina. Roma.
- Dorsey E.R., Topol E.J. (2016). State of telehealth. N Engl J Med, 375(2):154-61.
- Hollander J.E., Sites F.D. (2020). The transition from reimagining to recreating health care is now. NEJM Catalyst, 1(6).
