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.