Health Shop: How they help seniors access healthcare services in Tuscany

Maria F. is an 82-year-old woman with only a primary school diploma. She lives in Radicondoli, in the province of Siena, a small town with fewer than 1.000 inhabitants. Her granddaughter, however, lives in Siena and cannot help her every day. Maria, a heart patient, requires frequent heart checks and tests, and feels lost whenever there's a toll-free number to call, an app to download, or a password to enter, just to make a simple appointment.

Luckily, she can turn to the Bottega della Salute, the help desk that offers all the assistance seniors need to access healthcare services. Located in the Radicondoli town hall, it has regular office hours and offers assistance to people like Maria, who aren't internet savvy, for a range of services: 

• book specialist visits and tests;
• print medical reports;
• pay the health ticket;
• choose or change your family doctor via online services;
• activate and use the Health Card;
• access the Electronic Health Record;
• receive help in using digital health services;
• obtain information and guidance on local social and health services;
• be helped in using digital tools such as SPID. 

Essentially, it's not a doctor's office: it's a help desk that helps you access services that you would otherwise have to manage independently online, by phone, or by going to other facilities.

The help desks are staffed by qualified staff and, in many cases, by young, well-trained members of the Regional Civil Service. They can also provide telephone assistance to those experiencing IT difficulties.

There are over 70 health shops operating in Tuscany , and they are mainly found in all the provinces, in small towns, mountainous or peripheral areas.

Source: Arezzo24.net

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