SPECIAL ARTICLES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2006 August;141(4):421-3

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Thermalism: ecomical problems and regulations

Potenza B., Mancini M., Calvieri S.

Department of Cutaneous-Venereological Diseases and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

Thermalism in Italy is widespread and very popular, due to the hydro geological features of its territory rich in thermal springs and with a long historical tradition. However, it has not achieved a well-deserved placement in medical treatment, according to evidence-based medicine. A rational scientific intervention, based on guidelines, should be applied. One that, on the one hand, can assign this medical aid its right placement in medicine and, on the other hand, can identify pathologies, other than those already covered by the national health service, that may obtain long lasting benefits. The main aim, within a modern integrated health system, is to create a close cooperation between medical aids and territory, so as to offer the best assistance to all patients, reducing hospitalization and improving alternative therapies such as thermalism, according to the philosophy of total quality management. To this regard, day hospital is considered an alternative aid at a “special” price, promoting other kinds of therapies for some pathologies, such as crenotherapy, heliotherapy, thalassotherapy, along with the new biological therapies, as in case of psoriasis (Authorized Thermal Spa’s).