IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori is a single-specialty and a national excellence institute for the diagnosis and treatment of the oncological pathology. The institute has adopted digital innovation solutions in several fields: i) clinical activities, ii) scientific research, and iii) administrative support activities. Even before the Covid-19 outbreak, the institute experimented the adoption of telemedicine and, particularly, telemonitoring.
In order to ensure continuity of care and treatments during the pandemic, the telemedicine experiences were strengthened, and more than 10,000 remote consultations were delivered. Nowadays, telemedicine remains a key channel for taking care of oncological patients.
In particular, this contribution presents the “Virtual Outpatient Clinic” project.
It aims at systematically introducing tele-medicine into daily practice through a process review approach that actively engaged the clinical units. After a first implementation phase in which already available technologies were quickly adopted, the institute introduced a dedicated new telemedicine platform (“TICURO”). Currently, ten clinical units have been involved and, since 2021, 100 televisits/per month have been delivered with the National Health Service.
The close integration between Clinical and Research departments has led to the design of a tool in the platform for the collection of PROMs (Patient Reported Outcome Measures). The platform also represents an opportunity for future developments, rethinking and reorganizing the inpatient and pre-hospitalization pathways, involving also a broader variety of stakeholders, such as caregivers and voluntary associations.