Introduction of a telemonitoring service for patients affected by Chronic Heart Failure

Nuove Reti Sanitarie is a telemonitoring service for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) successfully implemented in Lombardia Region, Italy, over the period 2006-2008. In particular, the purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation process and the assessment results of this telemedicine service. 609 patients (70 ± 12 years) affected by CHF (91.6% and 8.4% in NYHA III and IV, respectively) have been enrolled. During the telemonitoring period (158 ± 58 days), 1.1 weekly contacts per patient have been performed. The total reimbursement provided to the 24 hospitals that used the service was ¿ 363,880, corresponding to 3,308 telemonitoring months. The service improved the severity of CHF in 34% of patients in NYHA III and in 39% of patients in NYHA IV and decreased the number of hospitalizations. The results of 432 questionnaires reflect a high patient satisfaction.