Assessing the digital health transformation with the SCIROCCO Exchange tool in Puglia Region

Abstract

Abstract Have we progressed integrated care in Europe? The EU Health Programme funded project, SCIROCCO Exchange addresses this question by providing online self-assessment tool for integrated care. Among the project partners, Puglia Region and the Strategic Regional Agency for Health and Social Care (AReSS), assessed the integrated care maturity level of the six Puglia' Local Health Authorities. The SCIROCCO Exchange project provides a 12-dimensions online tool for European regions to assess their maturity in the provision of integrated care, including identification of strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. The methodology provides the following steps: 1) selection of key stakeholders participating in the assessment; 2) conducting the individual assessments; 3) building the consensus among the involved stakeholders. The outcomes of the assessment were captured in the form of spider diagrams, highlighting Puglia' strengths and weaknesses in integrated care. The research has provided a multi-dimensional representation of the integrated care maturity level of the Puglia' Local Health Authorities. With reference to the SCIROCCO Exchange tool dimensions, major strengths include: Digital Infrastructure; Population Approach; Process Co-ordination; and Citizen Empowerment. Among the areas for improvement: Finance & Funding; Removal of Inhibitors; and Evaluation Methods were identified. The experience of using the SCIROCCO Exchange Tool have demonstrated benefits and added value of the Tool in guiding involved stakeholders towards the implementation of integrated care in Puglia and in stimulating multi-stakeholders discussions and participants' engagement. The assessment results will be used to orient an Action Plan to facilitate much more effective and tailored knowledge transfer process and provide better digital care services in Puglia.