New pathways of care

Consider the use of non-healthcare facilities (e.g., shopping centres) to carry out non-invasive exams, such as an echocardiography, or face-to-face visits. This will reduce hospital contacts for these patients and optimise resources for the in-patients.

Where the private healthcare system is well developed, an agreement between private facilities and public health institutes can provide precious support and reduce pressure during peaks of the pandemic. Elective exams or interventions can be performed in private facilities by public health doctors, optimising otherwise unused resources.

If the cardiology ward/CCU is fully occupied, or COVID cases spread among cardiology beds, life-saving percutaneous interventions can still be delivered using a fast-track admission and discharge model. A dedicated pathway in and out of the cathlab can bypass the cardiology ward.

New, less invasive and more flexible interventions can replace standard procedures, which are at higher risk of COVID transmission or simply require more resources. This is the case of structural valve interventions, which, when performed percutaneously, offer a faster recovery to the patient, and less hospital occupancy.