Page 19 - Delaware Medical Journal - July 2017
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TELEHEALTH
There are two national and 12 regional telehealth resource centers.5 All have websites with helpful resources that include toolkits, educational programs, and webinar training.
One relevant and helpful resource is the Telehealth vendor fact sheet developed by the Northeast Telehealth Center6 including
a summary of types of telehealth technology and a review of
the technology market (videoconferencing devices, peripheral
Identify your currently available bandwidth and existing IT/ HIT infrastructure.6
Identify the number of connections or users you will need to begin.6
Consider developing a Request for Proposal (RFP), particularly if there are several vendors to choose from and compare.
Questions to consider posing to potential telemedicine vendors6-9
What technical support do they provide, initially and ongoing?
including scheduling?
Do they provide staff training? Initially and ongoing? What are the costs for the above?
What are anticipated upgrade costs?
Request an onsite demo and include key staff. Request a pilot period to test technology.
Discuss security of technology — eg. Encryption? Storage of data?
Discuss HIPAA and Business Associate Agreements (BSAs). Note: technology cannot be HIPAA compliant, rather it must be used in a HIPAA compliant manner.
Is there integration with your electronic health record (EHR) or does the platform run parallel? Note: availability of integration of platforms is currently at an early stage of evolution and, if available, likely has associated additional costs.
Ask vendors for current users and their contacts.
Ask about vendor experience — eg. number of years in business, number of clients who have used the technology.
There are many good resources for learning more about telehealth including those available via the internet. Several are included
in the listed references. Regional conferences such as MATRC’s annual Telehealth Summit4 and courses, such as the University program10 can provide more in-depth information.
Enjoy the journey into the world of telehealth!
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
PATT ELLEN PANZER, MD, MPH, FAAFP is board certified in family medicine and is President of Patt Panzer Associates, LLC., health care consulting. She recently completed the University of Delaware Advanced Telehealth Coordinator Certificate Program.
REFERENCES/ RESOURCES
1. Center for Connected Health Policy, National Telehealth Policy Resource Center: “What is Telehealth?” Available at: http://www.cchpca.org/what- is-telehealth. Accessed May 3, 2017.
2. HB69 passed and signed by Governor on July 7, 2015, An Act to amend Title 18 and 24 of the Delaware Code Relating to Telemedicine Services. Available at: https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB69/2015. Accessed May 3, 2017.
3. American Telemedicine Association (ATA). Telemedicine Care Studies. Available at: http://thesource.americantelemed.org/resources/ telemedicine-case-studies. Accessed May 3, 2017.
4. Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center. Available at: http://www.matrc.org. Accessed May 3, 2017.
5. Telehealth Resource Centers. Available at: http://www. telehealthresourcecenter.org/ Accessed May 3, 2017.
6. NOSORH Telehealth Vendor Fact Sheet (2016) “Telehealth Technologies and Preparing to Select a Vendor” developed by Northeast Telehealth Resource Center. Available at: http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/ RuralHealth/Documents/NOSORH%20Telehealth%20Vendor%20Fact%20 Sheet%20FINAL.pdf. Accessed May 3, 2017
7. The California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC )Telehealth Program Developer Kit (2014) Telehealth section: Telehealth Technology Toolkit (2010) pp249-262. Available at: http://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/ sites/main/files/file-attachments/complete-program-developer-kit-2014- web1.pdf. Accessed May 3, 2017.
8. Telehealth Start-Up and Resource Guide (2014) Telligen Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center, gpTRAC Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center. Available at: https://www.healthit.gov/ sites/default/files/telehealthguide_final_0.pdf. Accessed May 3, 2017.
9. National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center (TTAC). Available at: http://www.telehealthtechnology.org. Accessed May 3, 2017.
10. University of Delaware, Professional and Continuing Studies, Healthcare and Health Sciences. Available at: http://www.pcs.udel.edu/healthcare- health-sciences. Accessed May 3, 2017.
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