Innovation, technology and health are intertwined in the new assistance modality developed byOperative Unit of Diabetology of the Ausl of Ferrarathan to his patients offer the possibility of remote visitsthrough the use of computers or telephones equipped with video cameras.
And innovative servicepreliminarily started a few years ago, as the manager explains Marcello Monesi: “Our attitude towards this method of contact it does not go back to the last daysbut even before the Covid emergency we had developed protocols for the remote assistance of pregnant patients with gestational diabetesin such a way that make life easier e prevent them from moving not necessary”.
Consequently, the pandemic and the lockdown “they did not find us unprepared to follow patients who could not leave the house ”explains Monesi. “We have conducted telephone and television visits which have been an excellent training ground for developing an alternative modality of diabetes care, which it cannot be the only onebecause I remain strongly convinced that the face visit is something that must never be missing in the patient’s clinical history“.
The path that leads to the video visit starts from the patient’s reservation of a normal appointment, which will be followed up sending an e-mail where a link to click at a set date and time to then get in touch with the doctor who, in addition to seeing him on video, will be able to acquire blood tests and share the data of the medical record. Currently the agenda is dedicated to people with type 1 diabetes, but the intention is “to widen the possibility to women in pregnancy and the frail elderly”.
“In addition – adds Monesi – a project has also been launched, which is currently being defined, for the consultation of patients who host the prison facility. For obvious reasons, they too cannot come unless escorted to the diabetic visit, and therefore we are setting up a remote visit also for the diabetics locked up in the prison“.
“It is an element of particular pride to be able to experience such a thing important innovation in the health field “concludes the head of the center of the Cittadella San Rocco, as well as – he adds -” it is a pleasure that our Operating Unit has recently been awarded during the national congress of the scientific society of the diabetic doctors association, with an award which, together with other structures in Italy, underlines the importance and duration of the activity of this structure, which already between the 70s and 80s , under the guidance of Professor Morsiani, was recognized as center of excellence“.