EIT Health France supports hotline for chronically ill

La Ligne C is first hotline on COVID-19 to help people living with a chronic disease

In the context of the health crisis linked to COVID-19, EIT Health France wants to provide quick responses in order to implement concrete initiatives addressing the consequences of this major pandemic.

By supporting the free hotline La Ligne C (Line C), EIT Health supports an innovative citizen action composed of a collective of patients and caregivers who are there to help people living with a chronic disease. EIT Health France and other organisers of the hotline want to give information about COVID-19, thereby committing to the protection of patients seven days a week. The launch of the line took place in France on 27 March 2020 at the national level.

According to Jean-Marc Bourez, Managing Director of EIT Health France, “I am concerned that in addition to the difficulty of taking care of patients with COVID-19, a lack of daily monitoring of patients with chronic illnesses would increase their demand for health care in our already overcrowded hospitals.”

Millions with chronic conditions

In France, approximately 15 million people are affected by one or more chronic diseases, which have major repercussions for the lives of patients. Line C was created to meet the needs of people living with chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer, psychiatric diseases, kidney failure, HIV, etc.). The objective is to limit the congestion of the healthcare system and to reassure patients who are confined. These people may be overwhelmed with contradictory information – or may not have access to information at all. The line directs them to the appropriate associations or federations, according to the patient’s pathology.

The collective is made up of about 50 volunteers, patients trained to listen and caretakers. Their challenge is to listen to each person, understand their expectations, reassure them and direct them towards information adapted to their chronic pathology. Each call is unique and requires the same high standards and the same commitment from the operators. If the situation is urgent, callers are redirected to their doctor or to the French medical emergency number.

EIT Health France staff involvement

According to Dr Albane Pariset, Patients and Citizen Officer at EIT Health France (pictured), “The health crisis affects us all and it forces us to ask several questions. A person suffering from a chronic disease not only has many doubts about general COVID-19 consequences, but also more specific questions related to his/her pathology. These people have a real need to be informed and oriented in the most appropriate way possible. I am proud that EIT Health France supports this innovative citizen initiative and gives me the opportunity to get involved.”

The team is supervised by Anne Schweighofer, creator of Patient Conseil and Head of Line C; Philippe Delpierre, Director of Studies – Businesses against Cancer, in charge of operators; Dr Patrick Papazian, Hospital Doctor and Health Communication Professional; and Dr Albane Pariset, Citizen & Patient Officer, EIT Health France.

The initiative is supported by Amgen, an EIT Health partner. Along with providing other support, EIT Health France gave Dr Albane Pariset, Patients and Citizen Officer, the opportunity to get involved.

Line C also benefits from the support of Tribu Cancer, Sida info Service, L’Agence inclusive, Patient Conseil, Entreprises contre le Cancer, Impact Medicom, and L’agence J.