Healthcare Quality Management and Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs)

Giuseppe Gambale*, Andrea De Giorgi**, Marta Castellani**, Elisa Mazzeo**, Rosario Andrea Cocchiara*, Giovanni Profico*, Simona Amato*

*Rome Healthcare Local Authority 2
** Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases – Sapienza University of Rome

Keyword: Integrated care pathways, public health management, e – health

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the largest causes of morbidity and chronic mortality and a public health problem of high importance. In Italy, COPD afflicts 5.6% of adult (3.5 million people) and is responsible for 55% of all deaths related to respiratory diseases. Smokers have a higher risk, in fact up to 40% develop the disease. From the Covid-19 pandemic, the most affected population is the elderly (mean age 80 years old), with previous chronic diseases, in 18% with chronic respiratory.

The aim of the present work was to validate and measure the outcomes produced by the recruitment and care of COPD patients enrolled by an Healthcare Local Authority in the corresponding Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) in order to measure how a multidisciplinary, systemic and e-health monitored care impacts upon mortality and morbidity.

Healthcare Management, avoidable mortality, telemedicine to improve health of the diabetic population

Giuseppe Gambale*, Marta Castellani**, Elisa Mazzeo**, Andrea De Giorgi**, Rosario Andrea Cocchiara*, Giovanni Profico*, Simona Amato*

*Rome Healthcare Local Authority 2
** Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases – Sapienza University of Rome

Keywords: telemedicine, avoidable mortality, management Abstract

Background: Worldwide the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that in 2021 9.2% of adults (536.6 million, between 20 and 79 years of age) are diabetic and 32.6% under 60 years (6.7 million) die because of diabetes. This disease is set to become the leading cause of disability and mortality by 2030. In Italy, the prevalence of Diabetes is about 5%; in the pre-pandemic period, from 2010 to 2019, diabetes was responsible for 3% of deaths recorded, while during the pandemic in 2020, these deaths increased to about 4%.

The present work aimed to measure the outcomes obtained from the ICPs (integrated care pathways) implemented by a Health Local Authority according to the model of the Lazio region and its impact on avoidable mortality, i.e.,

Management of an Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs): an Italian Study

Giuseppe Gambale*, Elisa Mazzeo**, Andrea De Giorgi**, Marta Castellani**, Rosario Andrea Cocchiara*, Giovanni Profico *, Simona Amato*

*Rome Healthcare Local Authority 2
** Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases – Sapienza University of Rome

Keyword: Integrated care pathways, public health management, e – health

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization defines chronic disease as long duration and generally slow progression disease, with a continuous treatment over decades. The management of such diseases is complex, as the aim of treatment is not cure, but maintenance of a good quality of life and prevention of possible complications. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide (18 million deaths per year) and hypertension remains the largest preventable cause of cardiovascular disease globally. In Italy, the prevalence of hypertension was of 31.1%. The goal of antihypertensive therapy should be to reduce blood pressure back to physiological levels or to a range of values identified as targets.