When a health problem arises that does not require immediate intervention but still requires a professional response, many citizens often find themselves faced with a doubt: contact their family doctor, the emergency medical service or go directly to the emergency room.
To simplify this process, 116117 was introduced, the Harmonized European Number dedicated to non-urgent medical care and access to local health services. It is a tool designed to offer a clear and immediate point of reference, capable of directing each person towards the service best suited to their healthcare needs.
How the service works
The number 116117 is completely free, reachable from both landlines and mobile phones and available without the need for prefixes. Once the call has been made, the citizen comes into contact with qualified health workers capable of carrying out an initial assessment of the situation.
The objective is not to formulate remote diagnoses, but to provide an initial orientation, suggest the most appropriate care path and guarantee a rapid response to requests that are not of an emergency nature. Among the most innovative features of the service include the geolocation of the caller, support in Italian and English and systems designed to also facilitate people with sensory disabilities.
The direct connection with emergencies
One of the most important aspects of the system concerns its integration with the health emergency network. If during the interview symptoms or conditions emerge that suggest an urgent situation, the call is immediately transferred to emergency numbers, such as 112 or 118, allowing rapid intervention without the citizen having to make a new phone call. This function allows you to avoid errors in evaluation and guarantees greater safety in the management of the most delicate cases.
Emergency medical service, health advice and assistance to tourists
The service also represents an important link with Continuity of Care, commonly known as medical on-call, especially during the night, on weekends and on holidays when the general practitioner is not available.
Through 116117 it is possible to obtain non-urgent health advice, information on local services and directions for accessing the tourist medical service, particularly useful during holiday periods. If you have difficulty finding your family doctor or pediatrician of your choice, the number can also provide useful information on how to contact and access the services available.
Concrete help for citizens and hospitals
The introduction of 116117 represents a fundamental step in strengthening local healthcare. Thanks to a system active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the service aims to improve access to care, provide timely responses and reduce the phenomenon of improper access to emergency rooms. A number that could become an increasingly central tool in the daily management of health, helping citizens to quickly find the right answer without overloading the structures dedicated to emergencies.
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