Waiting lists: the platform arrives, so citizens will be informed about treatment times

The national platform on waiting lists heats up. The new tool for monitoring queues for treatment, the number one enemy of many patients, wanted by the decree approved last summer by the government is in fact on the launching pad with the approval of the guidelines expected in the State-Regions for the go-ahead on 18 December: it is expected to be fully operational by next February. The implementing decree emphasises, among other things, how 'citizens and associations will be able to transparently access real-time data on monitoring and verify the indicators set up for waiting times'. The platform, which will be managed by Agenas in the future, will not only give medical times, but will also make it possible to check the first availability of the service one needs.

The National Waiting Lists Platform is one of the most eagerly awaited measures of the decree that came into force last August and which is somewhat slowly taking shape with the implementing measures. These include the guidelines defining the criteria for the implementation and operation of the platform to which the regional platforms will have to be linked. But what will be monitored? First of all, there will be the 'measurement of services on the waiting list throughout the national territory', then the 'availability of agendas' will come under the lens, both under the Health Service and intramoenia freelance services (the agendas will also include the availability of private accredited services). The platform will then indicate the waiting times in relation to priority classes, but also the new territorial health services envisaged by the NRP, such as the Community Homes, and finally the 'appropriateness and compliance with the Rao criteria (Homogeneous Waiting Groupings)'.

With the new Platform for Citizens finally comes the possibility of knowing in detail the waiting times for services in one's own Asl and in the Region to which one belongs. In fact, a web dashboard will be set up, where citizens will be able to query the platform and find out the average time - based on aggregated data from regional flows - that they have to wait for an echography, CT scan or cardiology examination, for example, on the basis of the priority classes established on the urgency of the services. At a later stage, when the platform will be operational and well launched, the intention of Agenas is to allow citizens, by entering the code of their electronic prescription, to be able to check the first availability in their local health authority: in practice, they will know the date when they can obtain the service they need. But it will not be possible to book on the platform, because this step will always have to be made through the Cup, the single booking centre that will now be centralised at regional level.

The platform will have a fundamental function above all for health directorates and those who govern regional healthcare. As the guidelines themselves explain, through the development and implementation of the platform, it will be possible to "realise the following benefits from centralised, real-time monitoring: Identification of areas for improvement in order to guarantee the necessary care in a timely manner for patients. Improved resource allocation and operational efficiency, reducing downtime. Sharing clear and up-to-date information on waiting times, promoting transparency and patient trust in the healthcare system. Increasing the performance of the public health service and increasing coverage in the territorial context. Govern modulation of waiting times in relation to priority classes. Appropriateness in access to services'.