The use of modern technologies based on telemedicine in wound care: experience in high-tyrrhenian region and the province of Cosenza, Italy

Chronic skin wounds (CSW) are a chronic illness that affects a large part of people forced to bed or home for disabling diseases; the chapter of cure and care of patients affected by this pathology represents an important commitment in terms of human and economic resources for the health system and, if not correctly managed, could identify with a threat to the sustainability of the system itself in Italy. The authors present the results of an experimentation carried out using the technologies and tools of Telemedicine with the aim of highlighting the problems and needs of home care of CSW. A telemedicine project was launched in which patients affected by CSW were followed remotely, directly from their home, using tablets and a program (application, APP) for the management of images of the CSW and of the clinical data. Results were compared, in terms of expenditure (number of home medical visits, mileage reimbursements) obtained in the treatment of patients with CSW in two semesters: the first (from October 2016 to April 2016) in which patients were followed in the traditional way and the second (from October 2016 to April 2017) in which the Telemedicine project was used. The data obtained from the study show that the use of the Information Technology and Telemedicine tools in the care of the LCC allows to obtain savings both in economic terms and in terms of time spent, with an improvement in the results and perceived quality of care. For these reasons, this modern possibility of therapeutic approach can represent a secure resource for the sustainability of the system of treatment of this chronic pathology, worthy of further study.