Virtual hospitals: The future of the healthcare system? An expert consensus. in Journal of telemedicine and telecare / J Telemed Telecare. 2025 Jan;31(1):121-133. doi: 10.1177/1357633X231173006. Epub 2023 May 24.

2025
ASL Città di Torino
ASL Torino 3

Tipo pubblicazione

Journal Article

Autori/Collaboratori (14)Vedi tutti...

Pilerci C
Department of Clinical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Minto G
Department of HPB surgery, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Italy.
Cordiano C
Regional Healthcare System, Planning and Control Directorate, Veneto Region, Venice, Italy. RINGGOLD: 18177

et alii...

Abstract

Today, social and healthcare systems at a global level are facing constant challenges dictated by an increasing mismatch between the demand for care services and the supply of human and economic resources. Such a situation has been exacerbated in the past two years by the Covid-19 pandemic. This has led to an increase in the leverage of digitalisation, which has proved to be a crucial tool for the development and application of new organisational models at both hospital and territorial levels, thus addressing the various criticalities already present in the system. In this sense, the Virtual Hospital has emerged as a potential model for increasing effectiveness and efficiency in delivering sociomedical services. Starting from these premises, an EFTE (estimate, feedback, talk, estimate) approach was used to acquire an expert consensus within a multidisciplinary panel of academics and healthcare managers of the Veneto Region in Italy. This article reports the expert opinion on the possible application of the Virtual Hospital model in the national context, starting from the existing international evidence and good practices, highlighting the potential advantages and barriers to its implementation. Furthermore, the article analyses the most relevant areas of investment for the development of intangible assets and the acquisition of tangible assets necessary for its implementation.

Accesso banca dati bibliografica

PMID : 37226478

DOI : 10.1177/1357633X231173006

Keywords

digital health; Virtual hospital; EFTE method; Hospitals/standards; Italy; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration/standards; Consensus; Telemedicine/organization & administration/standards; COVID-19/epidemiology; Humans; e-health; national healthcare system; telehealth; telemedicine;