CAREMED introduces the Active Patient Care Model in Italy through a pilot training in Florence, empowering healthcare professionals to promote patient-centred, community-based chronic disease management.
On 3–4 June 2026, the first training session on the Active Patient Care Model (APCM) in Italy was held at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Florence, Italy, within the framework of the CAREMED project, co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
The training was organized by the Global Health Center (Centro di Salute Globale – AOU Meyer IRCCS), Lead Partner of the CAREMED project, in collaboration with partners from the GAMP Pacient Actiu programme of the Balearic Islands and ICU – Institute for University Cooperation.
Twenty healthcare professionals from the Primary Healthcare Centres (Case della Comunità) of Canova and San Casciano (AUSL Toscana Centro) participated in the training, gaining first-hand knowledge of the Active Patient Care Model, a community-based approach that has been successfully implemented in the Balearic Islands to support people living with chronic diseases.
The APCM places patients at the centre of care and promotes their active involvement in disease management. A key component of the model is the identification and preparation of “Expert Patients” – individuals living with chronic conditions who receive dedicated training and are then able to facilitate peer-support groups, share experiences, and encourage healthier behaviours among fellow patients.
As part of the CAREMED pilot activities, the healthcare professionals trained in Florence will play a crucial role in the next phase of implementation. They will be responsible for identifying, training and mentoring the Expert Patients who will subsequently lead peer-learning and mutual support groups within their communities.
By strengthening patients’ self-management skills and fostering collaboration between healthcare services and local communities, the Active Patient Care Model contributes to improving quality of life, treatment adherence and the sustainability of chronic disease care.
Through CAREMED, the APCM care model will be adapted and implemented across participating Mediterranean countries, supporting the transition towards more community-based and person-centred healthcare systems.
Last Update
17/06/2026
Next Med