Whittaker S et al. 2004 "Success factors in the long-term sustainability of a telediabetes programme."
Reference
Whittaker SL, Adkins S, Phillips R, et al. Success factors in the long-term sustainability of a telediabetes programme. J Telemed Telecare 2004;10(2):84-88.
Abstract
"We studied a telediabetes programme that had been in operation for 10 years, to identify the factors in its sustainability. We reviewed archive documents, conducted interviews with programme administrators and primary care providers, observed diabetes consultations and surveyed patient satisfaction. Three success factors were identified: the administration took a long-term view of the value of the telemedicine service; telediabetes enabled structured use of staff time and facilities; and service delivery followed national diabetes standards and a well defined cycle of care within a long-term quality improvement programme. However, the present study did not address the three other key theoretical dimensions of systems design beyond sustainability: size, scalability and scope."
Objective
"To identify the factors in telediabetes programme sustainability."
Tools Used
Type Clinic
Primary care and specialty care
Size
Small, medium and large
Geography
Rural
Other Information
Study sites included a 159 bed acute care regional medical center in Kentucky and 17 primary care facilities, located in 13 adjoining rural counties.
Type of Health IT
Telemedicine
Type of Health IT Functions
Functions included telediabetes sessions and telediabetes self-management therapy video consultation (on nutrition) hosted by one of the programme's certified diabetes educators.
Workflow-Related Findings
"In the 12 month surveyed, 52 of the 78 diabetes teleconsultations (67%) were held on Tuesdays and 19 (24%) on Thursdays. This helped to organize the working week of the care providers, facilitated the session scheduling with remote facilities and allowed other users to have access to the videoconferencing equipment on a predictable basis."
"There was a long term view of the telediabetes value."
"Telediabetes sessions offered 'face time without travel time,' and reduced the scheduling, fatigue, and expense of road travel. They [the providers] also viewed the time saved as valuable for other productive uses."
Study Design
Only postintervention (no control group)
Study Participants
Interviews were conducted with the diabetes education programme coordinator, a registered dietitian, the telecare director, and the telecare clinical coordinator. In addition, patients completed a nine-question survey.