From the Editor: In "Express Delivery" in the September/October print issue of ADVANCE, Holly Russo discusses the pros and cons of telemedicine and health care technology. Here's a list of questions to help you decide if it's right for you.

• What need does the technology address?
• How do you plan to use telecommunication technology?
• What service areas could the technology devices benefit?
• Does the technology offer multiple uses, such as educational training of staff, conducting meetings, providing a mechanism to do virtual visits?

• What are the current referral patterns? How does that relate to technology that may be helpful in working with referral sources?
• Who will benefit from the technology deployment?  Clients?  Practitioners?
• Who are the stakeholders in the application and how do you gain their support?
• How will you gain staff buy-in?

• What underlying infrastructure do you need to implement various technology applications?
• What sort of connectivity do you need and what is the availability and cost?
• Do you plan to use the Internet?
• Do you plan to use video conferencing to do real-time visits? Conduct case conferences? Facilitate meetings?
• Will you transmit data and images using store and forward technology?
• How fast do you want to transmit information?
• Who will have access to the system?
• With whom do you plan to communicate most often?

• How does reimbursement fit into the picture?
• How will you pay for hardware, software and connections?
• Are there off-the-shelf products that do what you want?
• How do you match the technology with your needs?
• How long will it take to train people on the equipment?
• What are the training needs and the costs associated with them?
• Will your current information technology staff be able to handle additional equipment and staff training needs?

• How will you address security and confidentiality issues?
• Are there existing standards and regulations federal and state dealing with privacy, security, or confidentiality of electronic transmission of data that you will need to comply with?

• How can you test applications before widespread deployment?
• What is the timeframe for rolling out the project?
• Do you have a timeline established with milestones to measure your progress?
• Have there been others that have used technologies in health care and how did they evaluate the impact of technology in particular areas?

Holly Russo is a consultant for The Corridor Group, Overland Park, Kan., and Telehealth Works, Juno Beach, Fla.