Telemedicine of the heart, boom of tests in Apulian pharmacies: 10,800 exceeded in six weeks

I n six weeks since the activation of the new Telemedicine service for heart health, over 10,800 tests have already been carried out in pharmacies in Puglia, with very high satisfaction from citizens and a widespread network of pharmacies involved. Thanks to the project promoted by the Puglia Region, citizens with a medical prescription can now perform essential heart health tests in the pharmacy, such as Electrocardiogram (ECG), Cardiac Holter and Blood Pressure Holter, in a simple, safe and close to home manner. Through the Telecardiology platform, clinical data are analyzed by specialists and the report is available quickly and in the event of critical issues, the planned care pathways will be activated immediately.

“We have chosen to strengthen the prevention system with this project by making the execution of these first-level tests more accessible and widespread,” declared the Vice President of the Region and Councilor for Health, Raffaele Piemontese . “Being able to do an ECG or a Holter in a pharmacy means bringing healthcare closer to citizens, especially those who live far from large centers or have difficulty booking tests through traditional channels. It is an organizational change that is good for health and public healthcare, lightening the burden on healthcare facilities.”

The service has so far involved over 640 pharmacies (out of 1,280 in the area), confirming the central role of community pharmacies in the context of the Pharmacy of Services. In particular, more than 80% of the tests carried out concern cardiac and blood pressure Holter, mainly aimed at patients with ongoing or diagnosed pathologies. The most significant numbers are recorded in Bari (4,179 tests), followed by Lecce (1,702), Taranto (1,664), Brindisi (1,339), Foggia (1,075) and BAT (770).

“Pharmacies are proving once again that they are a fundamental health facility,” commented Vito Novielli, president of Federfarma Puglia. “The participation of citizens and pharmacies in the Telemedicine for heart health project represents a concrete step forward that confirms Puglia as one of the most active regions in innovations in the health system.”

The service, integrated into the Farmacia dei Servizi network, is added to other services already active, such as the activation of the Electronic Health Record, the monitoring of chronic patients, oncological and metabolic screenings, anti-COVID-19 vaccinations and drug recognition.

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