title: Innovation Network Development Model in Telemedicine: A Change in Participation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. ; Innovation Initiative, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.affiliation: Innovation Initiative, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mashallah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torabi
authors.affiliation: Health Information Management Research Center, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Safdari
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Management, Health Information Management Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dargahi
authors.affiliation: Public Relations, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naeimi
keywords: Health Care Administration; Idea; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Telemedicine