Tehran University of Medical Sciences

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Innovation Network Development Model in Telemedicine: A Change in Participation Publisher



Goodarzi M1, 2 ; Torabi M2 ; Safdari R3 ; Dargahi H4 ; Naeimi S5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Innovation Initiative, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Health Information Management Research Center, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Health Care Management, Health Information Management Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Public Relations, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Healthcare Informatics Research Published:2015


Abstract

Objectives: This paper introduces a telemedicine innovation network and reports its implementation in Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The required conditions for the development of future projects in the field of telemedicine are also discussed; such projects should be based on the common needs and opportunities in the areas of healthcare, education, and technology. Methods: The development of the telemedicine innovation network in Tehran University of Medical Sciences was carried out in two phases: identifying the beneficiaries of telemedicine, and codification of the innovation network memorandum; and brainstorming of three workgroup members, and completion and clustering ideas. The present study employed a qualitative survey by using brain storming method. Thus, the ideas of the innovation network members were gathered, and by using Freeplane software, all of them were clustered and innovation projects were defined. Results: In the services workgroup, 87 and 25 ideas were confirmed in phase 1 and phase 2, respectively. In the education workgroup, 8 new programs in the areas of telemedicine, tele-education and teleconsultation were codified. In the technology workgroup, 101 and 11 ideas were registered in phase 1 and phase 2, respectively. Conclusions: Today, innovation is considered a major infrastructural element of any change or progress. Thus, the successful implementation of a telemedicine project not only needs funding, human resources, and full equipment. It also requires the use of innovation models to cover several different aspects of change and progress. The results of the study can provide a basis for the implementation of future telemedicine projects using new participatory, creative, and innovative models. © 2015 The Korean Society of Medical Informatics.