摘要：Due to major advances in the information technology, telemedicine applications are
ready for a widespread use. Nonetheless, to allow their diffusion in National Health Care Systems
(NHCSs) specific methodologies of health technology assessment (HTA ) should be used to assess
the standardization, the overall quality, the interoperability, the addressing to legal, economic and
cost benefit aspects. One of the limits to the diffusion of the digital tele-echocardiography (T-E) applications
in the NHCS lacking of a specific methodology for the HTA . In the present study, a solution
offering a structured HTA of T-E products was designed. The methodology assured also the
definition of standardized quality levels for the application. The first level represents the minimum
level of acceptance; the other levels are accessory levels useful for a more accurate assessment of the
product. The methodology showed to be useful to rationalize the process of standardization and has
received a high degree of acceptance by the subjects involved in the study.
