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How do you begin to set up telehealth services?

Since the term 'telehealth services' can refer to so many different activities, the best way to start is with a needs assessment.

This involves determining:

• What kind of access does the area have to specialists or tertiary care?
• Does the organization possess an expensive piece of technology (like a CT scanner) that is underutilized?
• What kinds of referrals are frequently given but also may cause the patient hardship (due to travel time, expense, etc)?

The next step is to look for collaborators and resources. Search for other programs that already exist in the state, or if partnering tertiary/specialty care hospitals are already involved in telehealth projects. Focus on other providers in the region. Telehealth programs benefit from economies of scale, so finding allies in the area will be beneficial. When it comes to employing IT staff, training new users, maximizing utilization of resources, and achieving buy-in for the project, there is power in numbers.

Additional Resources:

• Developing a Strategic Plan Midwest Alliance for Telehealth and Technology.
• Emerging Lessons - Telehealth
• Lapointe L and S Rivard. 2006. CMAJ. Vol.174(11)
• Telemedicine Forms American Telemedicine Association.
• Telemedicine Standards and Guidelines American Telemedicine Association.
• Telehealth Operations Module Telehealth Resource Centers.