Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)

<i>Background:</i> The Telemechron project addresses critical needs in telemedicine by evaluating technology assessment frameworks and key performance indicators (KPIs), among other objectives. Effective frameworks and KPIs are crucial for assessing telemedicine services, especially in t...

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Main Authors: Sara Jayousi, Martina Cinelli, Roberto Bigazzi, Stefano Bianchi, Simonetta Scalvini, Gabriella Borghi, Palmira Bernocchi, Sandro Inchiostro, Alexia Giovanazzi, Marina Mastellaro, Maria Adalgisa Gentilini, Lorenzo Gios, Mauro Grigioni, Carla Daniele, Giuseppe D’Avenio, Sandra Morelli, Daniele Giansanti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Technologies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/2/44
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author Sara Jayousi
Martina Cinelli
Roberto Bigazzi
Stefano Bianchi
Simonetta Scalvini
Gabriella Borghi
Palmira Bernocchi
Sandro Inchiostro
Alexia Giovanazzi
Marina Mastellaro
Maria Adalgisa Gentilini
Lorenzo Gios
Mauro Grigioni
Carla Daniele
Giuseppe D’Avenio
Sandra Morelli
Daniele Giansanti
author_facet Sara Jayousi
Martina Cinelli
Roberto Bigazzi
Stefano Bianchi
Simonetta Scalvini
Gabriella Borghi
Palmira Bernocchi
Sandro Inchiostro
Alexia Giovanazzi
Marina Mastellaro
Maria Adalgisa Gentilini
Lorenzo Gios
Mauro Grigioni
Carla Daniele
Giuseppe D’Avenio
Sandra Morelli
Daniele Giansanti
author_sort Sara Jayousi
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background:</i> The Telemechron project addresses critical needs in telemedicine by evaluating technology assessment frameworks and key performance indicators (KPIs), among other objectives. Effective frameworks and KPIs are crucial for assessing telemedicine services, especially in terms of their impact on patient outcomes and service efficiency. <i>Methods:</i> This study adopted a dual approach to assess the contributions of the Telemechron project. Firstly, it applied a technology assessment framework to quantitatively evaluate telemedicine services, focusing on measurable improvements and systematic analysis. Secondly, it investigated a set of predefined KPIs using specific metrics and parameters to evaluate their applicability and limitations in telemedicine settings. <i>Results and Discussion:</i> The technology assessment framework demonstrated significant utility by providing structured, quantifiable improvements across key aspects of telemedicine services. It was effective in evaluating the alignment of services with strategic goals and their integration with existing healthcare systems. The predefined KPIs, although not developed within this study and not directly used by the different operational units (OUs)—which established their own context-specific KPIs—still provided valuable insights into telemedicine performance. However, the study revealed that these KPIs highlighted a need for further customization to enhance their relevance across various contexts. While the KPIs may offer useful performance indicators, their general applicability necessitated adjustments to better address the specific needs of telemedicine applications. The analysis model for the KPI set, in terms of metrics and parameters, is exportable and generalizable to other national and international telemedicine contexts. <i>Conclusions:</i> The study confirms the effectiveness of the framework in delivering measurable improvements in telemedicine services and underscores the importance of adapting KPIs for specific contexts. Future research should focus on further applying and expanding the framework and metrics, refining KPI models, integrating new technologies, and conducting cross-national comparisons to enhance the applicability and effectiveness of telemedicine evaluations.
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spelling doaj-art-02ef7dcfb34a4d1796da98ef5d4c55e62025-08-20T02:45:30ZengMDPI AGTechnologies2227-70802025-01-011324410.3390/technologies13020044Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)Sara Jayousi0Martina Cinelli1Roberto Bigazzi2Stefano Bianchi3Simonetta Scalvini4Gabriella Borghi5Palmira Bernocchi6Sandro Inchiostro7Alexia Giovanazzi8Marina Mastellaro9Maria Adalgisa Gentilini10Lorenzo Gios11Mauro Grigioni12Carla Daniele13Giuseppe D’Avenio14Sandra Morelli15Daniele Giansanti16Local Health Unit, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 57124 Livorno, ItalyLocal Health Unit, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 57124 Livorno, ItalyLocal Health Unit, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 57124 Livorno, ItalyLocal Health Unit, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 57124 Livorno, ItalyContinuity of Care Service, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Institute of Lumezzane, 25065 Brescia, ItalyContinuity of Care Service, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Institute of Lumezzane, 25065 Brescia, ItalyContinuity of Care Service, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Institute of Lumezzane, 25065 Brescia, ItalyAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, 38122 Trento, ItalyAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, 38122 Trento, ItalyAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, 38122 Trento, ItalyAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, 38122 Trento, ItalyTrentino Salute 4.0, Competence Center for Digital Health, 38123 Trento, ItalyCentro Nazionale Tecnologie Innovative in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, ItalyCentro Nazionale Tecnologie Innovative in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, ItalyCentro Nazionale Tecnologie Innovative in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, ItalyCentro Nazionale Tecnologie Innovative in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, ItalyCentro Nazionale Tecnologie Innovative in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy<i>Background:</i> The Telemechron project addresses critical needs in telemedicine by evaluating technology assessment frameworks and key performance indicators (KPIs), among other objectives. Effective frameworks and KPIs are crucial for assessing telemedicine services, especially in terms of their impact on patient outcomes and service efficiency. <i>Methods:</i> This study adopted a dual approach to assess the contributions of the Telemechron project. Firstly, it applied a technology assessment framework to quantitatively evaluate telemedicine services, focusing on measurable improvements and systematic analysis. Secondly, it investigated a set of predefined KPIs using specific metrics and parameters to evaluate their applicability and limitations in telemedicine settings. <i>Results and Discussion:</i> The technology assessment framework demonstrated significant utility by providing structured, quantifiable improvements across key aspects of telemedicine services. It was effective in evaluating the alignment of services with strategic goals and their integration with existing healthcare systems. The predefined KPIs, although not developed within this study and not directly used by the different operational units (OUs)—which established their own context-specific KPIs—still provided valuable insights into telemedicine performance. However, the study revealed that these KPIs highlighted a need for further customization to enhance their relevance across various contexts. While the KPIs may offer useful performance indicators, their general applicability necessitated adjustments to better address the specific needs of telemedicine applications. The analysis model for the KPI set, in terms of metrics and parameters, is exportable and generalizable to other national and international telemedicine contexts. <i>Conclusions:</i> The study confirms the effectiveness of the framework in delivering measurable improvements in telemedicine services and underscores the importance of adapting KPIs for specific contexts. Future research should focus on further applying and expanding the framework and metrics, refining KPI models, integrating new technologies, and conducting cross-national comparisons to enhance the applicability and effectiveness of telemedicine evaluations.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/2/44telemedicineTeleHealthdigital healthtechnology assessmentKPIkey performance indicator
spellingShingle Sara Jayousi
Martina Cinelli
Roberto Bigazzi
Stefano Bianchi
Simonetta Scalvini
Gabriella Borghi
Palmira Bernocchi
Sandro Inchiostro
Alexia Giovanazzi
Marina Mastellaro
Maria Adalgisa Gentilini
Lorenzo Gios
Mauro Grigioni
Carla Daniele
Giuseppe D’Avenio
Sandra Morelli
Daniele Giansanti
Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)
Technologies
telemedicine
TeleHealth
digital health
technology assessment
KPI
key performance indicator
title Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)
title_full Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)
title_fullStr Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)
title_full_unstemmed Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)
title_short Transforming Telemedicine: Strategic Lessons and Metrics from Italy’s Telemechron Project (Telemechron Study)
title_sort transforming telemedicine strategic lessons and metrics from italy s telemechron project telemechron study
topic telemedicine
TeleHealth
digital health
technology assessment
KPI
key performance indicator
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/2/44
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