Sustaining e-health innovations in a complex hospital environment: learning through evidence

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Healthcare Management
• Digital Health

Background:

• Sustaining technological innovations in healthcare is challenging, with many e-health initiatives failing post-implementation.
• Limited understanding exists regarding factors contributing to the success and sustainability of e-health in complex hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a successful virtual care program implementation, sustainability, and scale-up in a Canadian cardiac hospital.
• To identify key enabling factors for e-health innovation sustainability in complex healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• Described the evolution of a virtual care program including telemedicine, telehome monitoring, and interactive voice response.
• Detailed the "business case" and funding strategies for implementation.
• Identified critical success factors for sustainability and scale-up.

Main Results:

• A virtual care program comprising telemedicine, telehome monitoring, and interactive voice response was successfully implemented, sustained, and scaled.
• Key factors for success included simplified, intuitive technology for patients, research-supported value propositions, early administrative and clinical support, patient engagement, and industry partnerships.

Conclusions:

• E-health innovations can be successfully deployed and sustained in complex healthcare settings despite resource limitations.
• Key considerations for sustainability involve user-friendly technology, clear value, stakeholder buy-in, patient involvement, and strategic partnerships.