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FrancoAngeli Journals

Saggi

No. 135 (2025)

From Beds to Bytes: Assessing Telecardiology’s Role in Reducing Hospitalization for Cardiovascular Care in Liguria

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/mesa2025-135oa23142
Submitted
giugno 24, 2026
Published
2026-10-01

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases remain a primary cause of hospitalization in Europe, with significant economic and clinical impacts. In high chronicity contexts such as Liguria, telecardiology represents a strategic turning point to transform the healthcare system.
This study simulates the potential impact of telecardiology on average length of stay (LOS) and bed occupancy, using administrative data from the Italian Ministry of Health.
Impact estimates at the territorial level are based on different scenarios of LOS reduction, stratified by patient type (acute and chronic) and by facility types (Integrated Hospital – IRCCS, Local Public Hospital – LHA). These scenarios, grounded in scientific evidence and weighted with data from an international clinical database, were applied to estimate the potential impact at the regional level.
The results show higher complexity and longer LOS in IRCCS hospitals (ICM = 1.12; LOS = 7.73 days) compared to LHA hospitals (ICM = 0.94; LOS = 6.25 days). The adoption of telecardiology could reduce LOS by up to 0.97 days per patient, releasing hospital beds on a regional scale.

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