THE SERVICE
The remote consultation is a telemedicine service available for those who wish to obtain a cancer consultation in remote video connection with a IEO expert oncological physician.
The remote consultation offers many advantages, which are fundamental especially for the cancer patient because it allows to connect from the comfort of home breaking down the geographical and temporal boundaries and it facilitates the interaction with the physician allowing medicine to reach a greater number of patients.
Finally, the remote consultation, for those performances that allow it, is considered to all effects a real medical examination that is concluded with the dispatch of the report.

WHAT SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED REMOTELY
Not all services can be made remotely. It is at the discretion of the physician to assess the feasibility, taking into account the purpose of the performance and after having evaluated the clinical information previously provided by the individual patient.

STEP 1 - INITIAL PHASE
In order to request a remote consultation, write an e-mail to the address: [email protected]

Prepare all the clinical documentation, officially translated into English or Italian, describing the history of treatments performed from the onset of the disease to the current state of health.

In the case of complex medical history, it is essential to receive an accompanying letter from your doctor. The letter should contain the following information: diagnosis and stage of the disease, non-oncological history, detailed oncological history, history of treatments performed, ongoing therapies, home medications, active problems and the clinical question for the remote/online consultation.

STEP 2 - SENDING THE REQUEST
In order to request a remote/online consultation, write an e-mail to the address [email protected] and attach all the clinical documentation mentioned above.

STEP 3 - ANALYSIS OF THE CLINICAL CASE
Once received the documentation, a case manager physician will analyze the clinical case in order to identify the right physician who will perform the remote/online consultation.
ATTENTION: Not all medical examination can be made remotely. It is at the discretion of the physician to assess the feasibility, taking into account the purpose of the performance and after having evaluated the clinical information previously provided by the individual patient.

If the service cannot be provided remotely, it is possible to request a Second Opinion Service writing an e-mail to [email protected]; otherwise, it is possible to book a visit directly at the IEO writing an email to [email protected].

STEP 4- BOOKING AND PAYMENT
After the case manager has identified the physician who will take charge of patient’s case, the Clinical Services Office of the physician’s unit will book the remote/online consultation.
You will receive a confirmation e-mail with the information to perform the payment. The transfer must be made at least two days before the online consultation and the receipt of the payment must be sent to the e-mail address from which it has been received the confirmation e-mail.
The day of the Online Consultation, the patient will receive the link to access the visit 45 minutes before it.

STEP 5 - HOW TO PREPARE FOR A REMOTE CONSULTATION

1. ELECTRONIC DEVICES: To be able to make a remote/online consultation you must be in possession of a computer or a smartphone, equipped with a webcam, microphone and sound devices working.
2. DOCUMENTATION: The documents necessary to complete the request for the remote/online consultation are:
   - Patient’s ID (ID card or passport)
   - Clinical documentation in Italian or English
   - Patient Signed Privacy Consen
3. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTATION: The instructions for sending or uploading the clinical documentation (including any radiological images) will be provided by the Clinical Services Office of the physician’s unit with whom you want to make the remote/online consultation, once received the confirmation email of the booking.
   This documentation must be sent within two working days of the appointment. Clinical documentation must be in Italian or English. Any translations must be certified, namely, they must be on the letterhead of the translation company and accompanied by the translator’s stamp and signature.
4. LINK TO THE PLATFORM: on the day of the remote/online consultation the patient will receive a text message or an email containing the link to connect to the service. Email and text messages can arrive up to 45 minutes before the appointment.

STEP 6 - REPORTING
The remote consultation represents, to all intents and purposes, a real medical examination that ends with the sending of a report by the physician who performed it to the e-mail address indicated by the patient. The answer will be guaranteed within 5 working days.

USEFUL TIPS FOR CONNECTING TO THE REMOTE CONSULTATION
To ensure that the remote/online experience succeeds at its best, the user is advised to pay attention to some small precautions. If some steps are difficult, it is advisable to request the support of a caregiver/relative.

1. BEFORE STARTING: in order not to risk running into problems on the day of television we recommend:
   - As soon as you receive the link, make sure you can access the remote/online consultation platform, verifying that the webcam, microphone and speakers are working properly.
   - Choose a suitable environment to perform the visit remotely.
   - Make sure you have an adequate internet connection to support the teleconsultation. In addition, during the performance, it is advisable to remain as still as possible in the environment chosen to perform the consultation.
   - Verify that the device you are using has sufficient charge.
   - Have earphones with built-in microphone handy to use in case the audio devices of your computer, tablet or smartphone did not guarantee a good performance.
   
2. DURING THE REMOTE CONSULTATION:
   - If necessary, ask a caregiver/relative to be assisted in order to facilitate the conduct of the consultation.
   - Position the camera so that you can see the physician correctly
3. AT THE END OF THE REMOTE CONSULTATION:
   - Once the remote consultation is over, be sure to close the connection to the service.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How to request a remote/online consultation?
In order to request a remote consultation, write an e-mail to the address: [email protected]: You will receive a confirmation e-mail from the Clinical Services Office with the information to perform the payment.

The remote/online consultation is equivalent to a medical examination to the Institute?

The remote/online consultation can be carried out instead of the service to the IEO only in cases where the physician believes that sufficient clinical information can be acquired to give the answers required by the patient in terms of diagnosis and/or indications for treatment. As for the medical examination to the institute, the service is completed by sending a medical report.

Is it necessary to submit your own clinical records?

Yes, at least two working days before the appointment it is necessary to send all the relevant clinical documentation to the physician’s Clinical Service Office, according to the indications that it will provide. Clinical documentation must be in Italian or English.

How to cancel and reschedule a remote/online consultation?

In order to cancel and reschedule the remote/online consultation write an E-mail to the Clinical Service Office from which you received the confirmation email of the booking.

How to make the payment?

The Clinical Services Office of the physician that will perform the remote/online consultation will provide you with the detail to make the payment of the remote service.