An information technology framework for strengthening telehealthcare service delivery.
OBJECTIVE
Telehealthcare has been used to provide healthcare service, and information technology infrastructure appears to be essential while providing telehealthcare service. Insufficiencies have been identified, such as lack of integration, need of accommodation of diverse biometric sensors, and accessing diverse networks as different houses have varying facilities, which challenge the promotion of telehealthcare. This study designs an information technology framework to strengthen telehealthcare delivery.


METHODS
The proposed framework consists of a system architecture design and a network transmission design. The aim of the framework is to integrate data from existing information systems, to adopt medical informatics standards, to integrate diverse biometric sensors, and to provide different data transmission networks to support a patient's house network despite the facilities. The proposed framework has been evaluated with a case study of two telehealthcare programs, with and without the adoption of the framework.


RESULTS
The proposed framework facilitates the functionality of the program and enables steady patient enrollments. The overall patient participations are increased, and the patient outcomes appear positive. The attitudes toward the service and self-improvement also are positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study add up to the construction of a telehealthcare system. Implementing the proposed framework further assists the functionality of the service and enhances the availability of the service and patient acceptances.
Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. i.shiou@gmail.com
Li-Chin
LC
Chen
Chi-Wen
CW
Chen
Yung-Ching
YC
Weng
Rung-Ji
RJ
Shang
Hui-Chu
HC
Yu
Yufang
Y
Chung
Feipei
F
Lai
D001699:Biometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003199:Computer Systems; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013597:Systems Analysis; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States