COVID-19: lessons learned durante l'esperienza in Nord Italia. E' tempo di una assistenza terapeutica sempre più precoce.

COVID-19 represents a challenge for modern Health Care Systems, due to the mismatch between the number of patients and hospitals capabilities. It is important not only to consider the total number of patients requiring ICU capabilities, but also their condition and clinical history. Our experience in Northern Italy has been that many present to the hospital after spending 10-15 days at home, with fever and cough, without any medical therapy. In lieu of the growing numbers of patients presenting to the hospitals in serious condition (after delaying care until they deteriorate), it was obvious that intensive care therapy could be the solution. An earlier intervention was needed to try and reduce the burden on the over-extended intensive care capabilities. We must not only concentrate on delivering the best medical care, but to understand the right timing. In this context we suggest to translate the military deployed medical system approach: push forward the health care in order to be earlier and more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]