Telemedicine as a tool for continuity of care: the experience of local healthcare trust
1
1 Telemedicine service, ULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
2
2 Medical Board of Directors, ULSS 6 Euganea, Hospital of Cittadella, Cittadella, Italy
3
3 Coordinator of Sanitary District, ULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
4
4 Coordinator of Medical Board of Directors, ULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
5
5 Waiting List Coordinator of ULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
6
6 Socio Sanitary Direction of ULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
7
7 Administrative Direction of ULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
8
8 Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
9
9 General Direction of ULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A866
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The local healthcare trust of padua, in the veneto region, serves a population of 930378 inhabitants. It operates 4 acute hospitals with a total of 1318 beds, 1 rehabilitation hospital, 5 healthcare districts, and 46 nursing homes with 5977 beds. According to the organization’s mission, there is close collaboration between hospital specialists and general practitioners. Telemedicine was introduced to promote access to healthcare by facilitating communication between professionals and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.
METHODS:
Dedicated telemedicine booking systems have been activated. Information technology integration between the various systems has been implemented to enable data access and sharing of reports between hospitals and primary healthcare services. Technologies have been implemented and staff have been trained in personal data protection in accordance with European Union regulations.
RESULTS:
Telemedicine services have been activated in multiple healthcare settings to guarantee continuity and proximity of care: 7 telemedicine services in nursing homes (diabetology, home artificial nutrition, internal medicine, geriatrics); 3 in detention facilities (diabetology, addiction, mental health); and 28 in healthcare districts (cardiology, pneumology, rheumatology, internal medicine, neurology, palliative care, transfusion activities). In 2025, 7601 telemedicine services were provided to 4615 patients. Telemedicine significantly reduced hospitalizations (by 4.8% from 2024 to 2025) and readmissions (by 20.8%), particularly in chronic disease management and in elderly patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
The local health authority has initiated a structured process for the implementation of telemedicine, including information technology among its corporate strategies for strengthening primary care. The sustainability of the healthcare system increasingly relies on telemedicine, which addresses the growing healthcare needs of an aging and socially isolated population. Telemedicine represents a key innovation in public healthcare, supporting proximity and personalized care, especially for patients with chronic conditions or limited access to healthcare services.
The local healthcare trust of padua, in the veneto region, serves a population of 930378 inhabitants. It operates 4 acute hospitals with a total of 1318 beds, 1 rehabilitation hospital, 5 healthcare districts, and 46 nursing homes with 5977 beds. According to the organization’s mission, there is close collaboration between hospital specialists and general practitioners. Telemedicine was introduced to promote access to healthcare by facilitating communication between professionals and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.
METHODS:
Dedicated telemedicine booking systems have been activated. Information technology integration between the various systems has been implemented to enable data access and sharing of reports between hospitals and primary healthcare services. Technologies have been implemented and staff have been trained in personal data protection in accordance with European Union regulations.
RESULTS:
Telemedicine services have been activated in multiple healthcare settings to guarantee continuity and proximity of care: 7 telemedicine services in nursing homes (diabetology, home artificial nutrition, internal medicine, geriatrics); 3 in detention facilities (diabetology, addiction, mental health); and 28 in healthcare districts (cardiology, pneumology, rheumatology, internal medicine, neurology, palliative care, transfusion activities). In 2025, 7601 telemedicine services were provided to 4615 patients. Telemedicine significantly reduced hospitalizations (by 4.8% from 2024 to 2025) and readmissions (by 20.8%), particularly in chronic disease management and in elderly patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
The local health authority has initiated a structured process for the implementation of telemedicine, including information technology among its corporate strategies for strengthening primary care. The sustainability of the healthcare system increasingly relies on telemedicine, which addresses the growing healthcare needs of an aging and socially isolated population. Telemedicine represents a key innovation in public healthcare, supporting proximity and personalized care, especially for patients with chronic conditions or limited access to healthcare services.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
