Telemonitoring and experimentation in telemedicine for the improvement of healthcare pathways (ETAPES program). Sustainability beyond 2021: What type of organisational model and funding should be used?

Abstract

Medical telemonitoring could be a significant lever for improving access to care and the cost-effectiveness of patient management, particularly for chronic conditions, by reducing hospital admissions. It also appears to be an opportunity to redesign the healthcare pathway and its organisation in a way that is suited to the demographic, economic, and technical challenges that our healthcare system must address. In order to prepare for the future of socialised financing of telemonitoring at the end of the ETAPES programme, participants at the round table worked on nine recommendations, based on an analysis of international literature and the French healthcare system. The main stance endorsed is the implementation of a fixed rate fee associated with the creation of generic guidelines for the diseases currently involved in the ETAPES trials. Similarly, the implementation of an evaluation that is appropriate for telemonitoring devices and of incentives for quality of care seems necessary for the sustainable deployment of telemonitoring in France. Further studies will be required in addition to the points discussed by the round table in order to delve deeper into certain topics, such as therapeutic support for patients.

Keywords: Funding; Healthcare organisation; Medical telemonitoring; Telehealth; Telemedicine.