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. 2021 Aug;45(5):151429.
doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151429. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Evaluating Neonatal Telehealth Programs Using the STEM Framework

John Chuo  1 , Ali Chandler  2 , Scott Lorch  3
Affiliations

Evaluating Neonatal Telehealth Programs Using the STEM Framework

John Chuo et al. Semin Perinatol. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an explosive adoption of telehealth in pediatrics . However, there remains substantial variation in evaluation methods and measures of these programs despite introduction of measurement frameworks in the last five years. In addition, for neonatal health care, assessing a telehealth program must measure its benefits and costs for four stakeholder groups - patients, providers, healthcare system, and payers. Because of differences in their role within the health system, each group's calculation of telehealth's value may align or not with one another, depending on how it is being used. Therefore, a common mental model for determining value is critical in order to use telehealth in ways that produce win-win situations for most if not all four stakeholder groups. In this chapter, we present important principles and concepts from previously published frameworks to propose an approach to telehealth evaluation that can be used for perinatal health. Such a framework will then drive future development and implementation of telehealth programs to provide value for all relevant stakeholders in a perinatal health care system.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
STEM - Health Outcomes centric Telehealth Evaluation Framework.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Drivers Diagram for Neonatal Teleresuscitation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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