Page 35 Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring RPM for Long Termand Post Acute Care A Primer and Provider Selection Guide 2013

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7.2.3 Operating Environment timelines, resource requirements, and deliverables
will lead to success.
The type of software solution will most likely be di-
rectly influenced by the type of operating environ- 7.3.2 Goal Setting
ment required to meet your business needs. Under-
standing and defining organizational, provider and Defining goals of the telehealth program is critical
family access will help determine the most effective to measure success. Each organization will have
operating environment. Items to consider include: different ideas of what success looks like based on
internal operations. Before starting a telehealth
• Required access to the system remotely from program, the organization should set a clear series
any web-enabled device. of goals and metrics.

• Provider access, including partner providers. Keep in mind that goals should be measurable

• Family portal access. and routinely reported on within your operations.
The fundamentals to setting goals are to ensure
• Storing all information securely behind firewall that they are SMART goals (specific, measurable,
protection. attainable, realistic and track-able). Setting both
short-term and long-term goals for the telehealth

It is important to consider unique organizational program is highly recommended. Telehealth
needs and applications to ensure selection and programs will naturally change and progress over
setup of the appropriate operating environment. time. Organizational goals set at the initiation of the
program will likely be different six to twelve months
post implementation. Telehealth program goals
7.3 Operational Planning should continuously be evaluated and updated as
programs change. It is also important to understand
7.3.1 Project Team that a new program will have the ability to achieve
several major goals during the initial adoption of
Successful implementation of telehealth relies on a the program.
wide array of stakeholders on the project. The most
successful telehealth programs incorporate the Goals for each organization should be unique and
program into the day-to-day operations of the or- may incorporate ideas from the following categories:
ganization and provide all staff with some involve- Clinical Outcomes
ment with and exposure to the telehealth program.
Since telehealth is enabling a new care delivery • Improved control of chronic conditions.
model, most staff will need to be involved, includ-
ing executive leadership, clinical teams, technical • Improved integration/coordination of care.
representatives, DME/logistics, finance, operations • Reduction of hospitalizations.
and marketing/business development. Getting all
of these groups on board with a clear set of goals, • Hospital readmission reduction.

LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)