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Using Technology for Telemedicine Programs

Using Technology for Telemedicine Programs. The WATCH Project Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed, Joshua J. Alexander, MD The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. TelAbility (http://www.telability.org). An Internet-Based Telehealth Program For

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Using Technology for Telemedicine Programs

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  1. Using Technology for Telemedicine Programs The WATCH Project Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed, Joshua J. Alexander, MD The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

  2. TelAbility(http://www.telability.org) An Internet-Based Telehealth Program For Young Children with Disabilities

  3. WATCH Wake Area Telehealth Collaborative Helping Children with special needs

  4. Inclusive Child Care Centers • Tammy Lynn Center • White Plains Children’s Center • Learning Together • Carolina Child Development Center • UCP/Charlie Gaddy Center • Lucy Daniels Center • Project Enlightenment

  5. Residential Care • Hilltop Home • Tammy Lynn Center

  6. Service Programs • Community Partnerships for Children • Learning Together • Easter Seals UCP- Children’s Therapy Services • Project Enlightenment • Lucy Daniels Center

  7. The Raleigh Children’s Developmental Services Agency (ages birth-3) Wake County Preschool Services (ages 3-5) State Agencies

  8. Current Programming Website Content /Expertise Directory List serv Newsletters Videoconferencing

  9. BuildingaCommunityof Practice “A group of people who share a concern, set of problems, or passion about a topic and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interaction on an ongoing basis.”

  10. Expertise Directory • 2005 = 60 • 2007 = 280

  11. Expertise Directory • Handouts • Links • Calendar • Books • Articles • Videos • More!

  12. 2005= 29 2007= 237 WATCH@listserv.unc.edu

  13. Electronic Newsletter Subscribers= 400+ • Website Updates • Event Listings • Center Descriptions • Article Reviews • Tips and Topics • Project Updates

  14. Videoconferencing

  15. Video Conference Usage Statistics

  16. In total, over the past 16 months of the WATCH Project: • 679 people have participated in videoconference sessions • The average satisfaction rating for video conference sessions is 4.4 (out of 5) • The average comfort level for video conference sessions is 4.6 (out of 5)

  17. WATCH Benefits for Providers • Responsive to their needs and interests • Provides increased professional development and education opportunities • Offers opportunities for increased collaboration with other locations and professionals • Allows sites to establish mentoring relationships with other therapists or teachers • WATCH sites can schedule clinic or consultation time via the video conference unit • Evaluations/assessments/meetings can be held between parents, therapists, CDSA staff • Reduces travel time and costs

  18. WATCH Benefits for Parents • The ability to schedule video clinic or consultation time with a MD, therapist, or specialist who has access to a video conference unit. • The opportunity to schedule meetings, evaluations, or assessments with teachers, therapists, CDSA Child Service Coordinators, or other administrators or specialists who have access to a video conference unit. (ex. IFSP update meetings, questions, etc) • Reduces travel time and costs. Eliminates the need to find parking, wait in waiting rooms, and navigate hospitals or service agencies. • Increased collaboration and communication with everyone involved in the child’s care. • Increased learning opportunities for parents and teachers.

  19. Challenges • Lack of technical knowledge and support at sites • Sustainable funds to cover the costs of high speed internet connection to operate units at each site • Hosting large multipoint video conference sessions • Buy in/consistent participation from all sites • Establishing a public network/technical support issues

  20. Lessons Learned • Need for consistent, knowledgable, easily accessible IT support person • Public network system has been unreliable. • A border controller may help reduce the current unpredictability of our exisiting system. • Specified project director position is necessary to coordinate communication and activities within the project and be point person for IT problems • Needs assessments of each site and frequent communication with WATCH Members has allowed our project to take an organic and responsive approach • The WATCH network is made up of sites with specific expertise to help meet the collective needs of the members • Professional development and small group case study discussions have been of great interest, have proven very successful and have been well attended • Despite the convenience, it’s still hard to convince therapist to conduct consults and clinics via videoconference even when providing monetary reimbursement

  21. Future Goals

  22. End-user Locations

  23. Questions? Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed jsimpvos@med.unc.edu Joshua J. Alexander, MD joshua_alexander @med.unc.edu TelAbility/WATCH 1101 Weaver Dairy Road Suite 202 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 http://www.telability.org

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