Stakeholder Readiness for Telehomecare: Implications for Implementation

Abstract

Numerous pilot studies have demonstrated that telehomecare technology may improve client outcomes through timely intervention and health crises prevention, thereby reducing return visits to hospitals and physician offices. Although the potential of telehomecare to increase access to services and improve quality of care and health outcomes is recognized, expectations for its widespread adoption have not been realized. Factors affecting diffusion of innovations include, among other things, perceptions of the technology, organizational characteristics, and communication. These require further exploration for telehealth applications because evidence alone will not automatically produce large-scale conversions in practice.

This 12-month study was designed to assess the readiness of clients, health care professionals, and organizations to adopt telehomecare services for adult diabetic clients within the Calgary Health Region. A qualitative approach was used to collect data through focus groups with clients and home care nurses along with interviews with family physicians and key informants responsible for planning and resource allocation in diabetic homecare and telehealth programs. The transcripts of these interviews were analyzed for themes, which were categorized with respect to their effect on quality of care (including structure, process or outcome of care), including those related to the individual client, the health care provider, and the organization as a whole.

The study findings identified differences in stakeholder conceptions of the technology, including common themes among clients, providers, and organizations. Implications of study results for developing a strategy to incorporate telehomecare into routine community care are discussed.