ReSPIRO represents a strategic programming initiative within INNOVAAL, the Public-Private Aggregation for research, development, experimentation and validation of innovative technologies and services for “Active and Assisted Living” (approved for funding in response to MIUR call no. 713/RIC of 29.10.2010) which aims to build a network of expertise in the field of design and provision of technological products and services dedicated to the elderly and people with various forms of frailty and disability. ReSPIRO stems from a shared vision aimed at aggregating expertise and resources to create an integrated technological supply chain capable of responding, in the broadest horizon referable to the area Health, well-being and sociocultural dynamics, to the needs for social inclusion, security, assistance and health expressed by individuals in established or at-risk conditions of chronicity (respiratory, cardiological, oncological, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.). The Cluster intends to focus on the development of technologies and systems in the field of Active Assisted Living to support prevention processes (primary and secondary) and health self-management, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up in order to promote complete and personalized management of chronic disease in the home environment (both from the perspective of home care and that of hospital at home). ReSPIRO, within the scope of this proposal, aims to ensure continuity of care for chronic respiratory patients in home respiratory care (ADR) and integrated care (ADI) by preventing and/or promptly managing exacerbations (associated with re-hospitalizations).
Pneumological Services Network: Integration, Research & Open-innovation (ReSPIRO)
The project was funded by the Puglia Region (Call “AID IN SUPPORT OF REGIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL CLUSTERS FOR INNOVATION”).
Industrial research: development of devices for home monitoring of the health conditions of patients with chronic respiratory failure. IRPPS role: Analysis of healthcare processes.
The constant increase in chronic conditions and the weight of their resulting effects necessitate the development of a new socio-healthcare model capable of managing their slow manifestation, progressive worsening and considerable treatment complexity. Integration between hospital and community care is a model to follow. Among chronic-degenerative diseases, respiratory failure holds particular importance. At present, despite having therapeutic resources available (long-term oxygen therapy, home ventilation therapy), there is no integrated intervention program in the community aimed at ensuring proper management of the various levels of disease severity. Of fundamental importance in this integrated vision is patient monitoring in their own home through devices and sensors, which, if implemented comprehensively, can signal in real time to the relevant local health authorities the occurrence of actual states of disease exacerbation requiring intervention by healthcare personnel. The use of sensors and devices that analyze the patient’s exhaled breath (Breath Analysis) would provide the dual advantage of monitoring preventively and non-invasively respiratory function, thereby managing and/or delaying the evolution of chronic respiratory failure. ReSPIRO, by combining the identification of pervasive technologies, including through micro and nanoelectronics, and the development of devices, intends to pursue two strategic objectives: managing the disease through integration of care pathways and monitoring parameters related to the health status of pneumological patients at home, including through the development and adoption of specific “breath assessment” sensors, integration with devices for self- and tele-monitoring of fundamental parameters and with systems for monitoring therapy compliance.