Luis Velez Lapão1, Mariana Peyroteo1, Melanie Maia1, Jorge Seixas1, João Gregório2, Miguel Mira da Silva3, Bruno Heleno4, Jorge César Correia5. 1. Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, rua da Junqueira 100, Lisbon, PT. 2. CBIOS - Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies,, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, PT. 3. Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, PT. 4. Nova Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, PT. 5. Service d'Enseignement Thérapeutique pour Maladies Chroniques, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, CH.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems and disrupting the delivery of healthcare services, in particular for the elderly and those with chronic conditions, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project is to support primary healthcare provision with a digital health platform that will allow primary care physicians and nurses to remotely manage the care of patients with chronic diseases or COVID-19 infections. METHODS: The project followed the six steps of the Design Science implementation methodology framework: problem identification and motivation, definition of the objectives aligned with Goal-oriented care, artefact design and development based on Scrum, solution demonstration, evaluation, and communication. RESULTS: The digital platform was developed for the specific objectives of the project and successfully piloted in three primary healthcare centers in the Lisbon Health Region. The health professionals (53) were able to remotely manage their first patients safely and thoroughly with high degrees of satisfaction. The first COVID-19 messages were sent to the patients, addressing infodemic issues. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the rapid design and implementation of a digital platform to support primary healthcare services. Although still in the first steps of implementation, we are seeing promising results with a positive uptake by healthcare providers and patients. There are several limitations including a limited number of participating health care units. Further research is planned to deploy the platform to many more primary healthcare centers and evaluate the impact on patient's health related outcomes.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems and disrupting the delivery of healthcare services, in particular for the elderly and those with chronic conditions, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19infection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project is to support primary healthcare provision with a digital health platform that will allow primary care physicians and nurses to remotely manage the care of patients with chronic diseases or COVID-19infections. METHODS: The project followed the six steps of the Design Science implementation methodology framework: problem identification and motivation, definition of the objectives aligned with Goal-oriented care, artefact design and development based on Scrum, solution demonstration, evaluation, and communication. RESULTS: The digital platform was developed for the specific objectives of the project and successfully piloted in three primary healthcare centers in the Lisbon Health Region. The health professionals (53) were able to remotely manage their first patients safely and thoroughly with high degrees of satisfaction. The first COVID-19 messages were sent to the patients, addressing infodemic issues. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the rapid design and implementation of a digital platform to support primary healthcare services. Although still in the first steps of implementation, we are seeing promising results with a positive uptake by healthcare providers and patients. There are several limitations including a limited number of participating health care units. Further research is planned to deploy the platform to many more primary healthcare centers and evaluate the impact on patient's health related outcomes.
Authors: A Londral; S Azevedo; P Dias; C Ramos; J Santos; F Martins; R Silva; H Semedo; C Vital; A Gualdino; J Falcão; L V Lapão; P Coelho; J G Fragata Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2022-05-21 Impact factor: 2.908
Authors: Eman Sobhy Elsaid Hussein; Abdullah Mohammed Al-Shenqiti; Reda Mohamed El-Sayed Ramadan Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-10-04 Impact factor: 4.614