An up-to-date telemedicine integrated clinical pathway for adult patients with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Clinical management of adult patients with congenital heart disease (GUCH) is a difficult task for multiple reasons, which include their own pathology and clinical history complexity, diagnostic complexity and organization of care. GUCH specialists are present in very small numbers and are concentrated in few centers, thus generating considerable transfer problems for patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become the standard of care, ensuring health assistance continuity, and implementing communication channels between patients and health professionals. We suggest to stratify GUCH patients into three groups, which correspond to different levels of risk (low, moderate and high, respectively) to develop complications over time, using a GUCH-specific multiparametric complexity score; so, each patient pathway will be defined according to the specific group, with indication of site, timing and type of clinical and instrumental evaluations, including virtual visits and consults. In conclusion, practical tools are provided for the implementation of updated care pathways for GUCH patients, who finally are inserted in a new model of care in which even if in-person visit still represents the crucial moment of each patient care pathway, on the other hand, telemedicine incorporation could contribute to improving and making even more complete and effective GUCH patient care.