Evaluating Neonatal Telehealth Programs Using the STEM Framework.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Pediatric Healthcare Innovation
• Digital Health Evaluation

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption in pediatric care, highlighting the need for standardized evaluation methods.
• Existing measurement frameworks for telehealth programs show considerable variation, particularly in neonatal and perinatal health.
• Assessing telehealth value requires considering diverse stakeholder perspectives (patients, providers, healthcare systems, payers).

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a unified telehealth evaluation framework for perinatal health.
• To establish a common mental model for determining telehealth value across stakeholder groups.
• To guide the development and implementation of value-driven telehealth programs in perinatal care.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing telehealth evaluation principles and measurement frameworks.
• Adaptation of established concepts for the specific context of perinatal healthcare.
• Development of a proposed framework focusing on multi-stakeholder value assessment.

Main Results:

• Identification of key principles for evaluating telehealth in perinatal settings.
• Proposal of a structured approach to measure benefits and costs for all stakeholders.
• Emphasis on aligning stakeholder value perceptions for optimal telehealth implementation.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive evaluation framework is crucial for maximizing the benefits of telehealth in perinatal care.
• Standardized assessment will drive the effective development and implementation of telehealth solutions.
• The proposed framework aims to create mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties involved in perinatal telehealth.