SatNav E@syCare Telemedicine Platform in the Management of Covid-19 Patients: Field Trial Results

In the framework of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital technology has played a key role in the healthcare sector, becoming essential for improving the quality of care and well-being of individuals and populations. In this scenario, telemedicine platforms have enabled remote monitoring, reducing the contacts between patients and doctors and automating health processes. In this paper, we present the experience of SatNav E@syCare, a telemedicine platform enhanced with new functionalities to respond to the outbreak. In particular, Global Navigation Satellite System technology has been added to the system to geo-tag vital parameters, together with the possibility of digitizing examinations (e.g., lung ultrasound), planning access to the territory, automatically managing patient visits and monitoring patient physical activity. The system has been used by general practitioners and doctors of continuity care in different ways according to the phase of the pandemic and the adopted model of care (patient self-measurements vs home visits). More than 2000 patients of all ages have been monitored with SatNav E@syCare. Among the doctors involved in the project, more than 90% are using the system for at least one hour per day, leading to a reduction of time spent to manage patients. Moreover, the system has simplified their daily work, thanks to the digitization of information and sharing of data with colleagues. In their opinion, in a non-pandemic future, the use of the system will introduce benefits both for patients and healthcare professionals in the monitoring of chronic conditions on the territory.