Virtual Care Services

What is it?

Telehealth is a medical service that involves a healthcare provider interacting with a patient remotely and in real time, offering a consult using digital communication tools.

Telehealth cannot be considered a means of establishing a doctor–patient relationship exclusively at a distance, nor can it replace an initial in-person medical examination. In most cases, it is intended to offer follow-up and monitoring to patients whose diagnosis was already established during a previous in-person consult.

What services can be offered with Telehealth?

Outpatient services that do not require a complete physical examination (traditionally consisting of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation) can be provided with Telehealth.

For each individual case, the doctor determines whether and to what extent Telehealth can be used for the patient’s care, taking into account the purpose of the consult and the available clinical documentation.

Patient care services provided through Telehealth are managed and documented within the hospital’s information systems in the same way as traditional specialist consults, with the additional indication that the service was delivered remotely.

Service activation

Activating Telehealth requires the patient’s prior consent, including confirmation of the availability of suitable tools for interaction with the healthcare provider and a remote communication system that complies with current technical requirements and privacy and security regulations.

The consent must be preceded by appropriate and comprehensive information, provided by dedicated IRCCS ISMETT staff, in accordance with current regulations. The information allows patients to understand the type of medical service they will have access to and how it works.

How to book a Telehealth Visit

To book a Telehealth Visit, patients must:

• Access the ISMETT appointment booking service through the “Book” option in the Private Services section.
• Select the specialty of interest.
• Select “Telehealth Visit.”
• Register on the system.
• Read the Privacy Information Notice and provide consent to proceed with the booking.
• Once the request is completed, the patient is contacted by our offices. If the request is approved, they will confirm the appointment, explain how to submit the required documentation, provide the date and time of the visit, and share instructions for completing the Telehealth Visit and issuing the payment.

Useful tips for a Telehealth Visit

Electronic devices
To attend a Telehealth Visit, patients must:

• Have a computer equipped with a webcam, microphone, and audio devices
• a stable Internet connection
• choose a quiet environment with no background noise that could interfere with communication with the doctor.

For further information about Telehealth please contact us:

Telephone numbers:

• +39 334 6661839 (Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
• +39 335 7211045 (Monday to Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

e-mail:

• attivitaprivata@ismett.edu

At IRCCS ISMETT, it is possible to request a Consultation Without the Patient Present. In this case, a family member or a trusted person, provided with a specific authorization from the patient, presents the patient’s clinical documentation regarding the medical condition to the healthcare professional.

A Consultation Without the Patient Present does not replace an examination carried out by a specialist physician with the patient physically present, as it is based exclusively on the medical records and documentation provided to the physician for the purpose of the consultation. The absence of the patient may limit the physician’s ability to obtain complete information regarding the patient’s clinical condition.

How to book a Consultation Without the Patient Present

To book a Consultation Without the Patient Present, patients must:

• Access the IRCCS ISMETT appointment booking service through the “Book” option in the private healthcare services section.
• Select the medical specialty of interest.
• Select the service listed as “First Visit” or “Follow-up Visit.”
• Register on the system. Registration must always be completed using the details of the patient for whom the consultation is requested.
• Proceed with the booking.

Please note that, in order to carry out the consultation without the patient present on the day of the appointment, the authorized person must provide the following documents:

• The authorization form, duly completed and signed by the patient (available here).
• A copy of a valid identity document of both the patient granting the authorization and the authorized person.
• A copy of the patient’s Italian Health Insurance Card (Tessera Sanitaria).
• The privacy information notice and consent form signed by the patient (available here).

If the above-mentioned documents are not provided, it will NOT be possible to carry out the consultation.