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SMART solutions for primary care to overcome access barriers: sharing experiences with e-health across Europe

Raisa ÁLVAREZ PANIAGUA, Ozden GOKDEMIR, Seyda OZCAN, Mary JOHN-CHARLES ROBERTSON, Mihai IACOB, Cristina LOGHINA, Beata BLAHOVA, Andrea BALBARINI, Ana Beatriz MEIRA DA SILVA MAGALHAES and Ferdinando PandRAZZUOLI

The strategic use of technology has significant potential to strengthen continuity of care and reduce health inequalities in primary care. Key areas include remote consulting, wearable devices, and, increasingly, point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS). Remote consultations can bridge geographical gaps and improve timely access, while wearable devices enable remote monitoring of physiological parameters relevant to chronic disease management. POCUS represents a major upgrade of the traditional clinical examination, allowing clinicians to visualise most major organs directly during the consultation (the clinical ultrasound examination). Telemedicine platforms also enable remote supervision, second opinions, and integrated triage pathways. As these digital and imaging technologies become more common, often driven by access and resource constraints, sharing good practices, challenges, and implementation strategies across Europe is essential.