Tricare Telemedicine: Evaluation Plan for a Pilot Project

摘要

Information technologies are transforming the way health care is delivered. Themilitary health care system has recognized this trend and is on the cutting edge of integrating information technologies, specifically telemedicine, into the delivery of health care. Taking a lead in this effort is the Lead Agent of the Department of Defense Region VI. Region VI covers Oklahoma, Arkansas, and major portions of Louisiana and Texas. This management project provides a review of the current regional specialty referral process in terms of cost and access and develops a baseline to be used in the final evaluation of the pilot project. A data collection tool and procedures for the evaluation of the pilot project were also developed. Using documented telemedicine utilization rates, projections of usage were calculated allowing for payback and net present value analyses to be conducted.