Ensuring community support and setting appropriate goals both are among several keys to implementing a successful telemedicine program outlined in a recent article published in Becker's Hospital Review. For instance, if members of a surrounding community are uncomfortable with the aspect of telemedicine, the article states, they might not be willing to give it a try. And if relevant goals are not set, backtracking on certain efforts could be necessary.
Additionally, practicing for disaster scenarios is important, as it could help to prevent difficult situations down the road. "What if you cannot access the hospital's server?" asks Ross Hurd, CIO of Lake Chelan (Wash.) Community Hospital. "If you have to access the back-up system, what will change? You have to prepare for these scenarios so they are not debilitating in real-time." Article