Integrated General E-care access for home-care via satellite

The need for home-care is expanding dramatically. People are living longer than ever before in history. Today 18% of the Italian population is over 65 years old and this percentage will increase to 20% in 2008 (11 million). Most elderly people are better educated than before and are more comfortable with the use of technology. Most people want to remain independent and live in their homes as long as possible, yet a greater number of people are suffering from chronic conditions. At the same time, the health care industry is facing a critical shortage of public resources, as well as nurses and other health care personnel to care for our population. Health care providers are forced to do more with less resources, with decreasing reimbursements and increased focused on quality and clinical outcomes. IGEA SAT (Integrated General E-care access for home-care via SATellite) final objectives are: •To provide added value social services through the most innovative technologies, like Interactive TV and satellite, allowing service utilisation by all people, in particular the elderly, in spite of their geographical location. For highly distributed geographical areas including underserved and remote areas, satellites are frequently the only means to make healthcare services really “universal” and to guarantee the necessary quality standards. •To support disease management by providing communication and access to knowledge, and by enabling patient self-management. Success with disease management requires delivering the right interventions, at the right time, in the right way, to all the right patients. •To test the system in the framework of a clinical pilot study aiming to demonstrate the possibility to effectively manage, through telemedicine services, chronic patients at home.