Key challenges in the development and implementation of telehealth projects

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Telehealth implementation faces significant hurdles.
• Understanding these challenges is crucial for successful adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key challenges in telehealth implementation.
• To develop a model and checklist for guiding telehealth projects.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to identify telehealth challenges.
• Survey of 13 health/local authority organizations in England.
• Development and validation of a telehealth implementation model and checklist.

Main Results:

• Seven key challenges were identified in telehealth implementation in England.
• A five-element model for telehealth projects was constructed: issue identification, strategy, funding, implementation, and evaluation.
• A validated checklist was developed to guide telehealth development.

Conclusions:

• The developed model and checklist can assist organizations in navigating telehealth implementation.
• Addressing identified challenges is vital for effective telehealth service delivery.