Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Telehealth technology and related products can help to solve the problems associated with providing health care services and equal distribution of resources. However, in order to run a telehealth business successfully, key components and critical factors need to be taken into acc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-021-01707-3 |
| _version_ | 1818401514177167360 |
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| author | Farnia Velayati Haleh Ayatollahi Morteza Hemmat Reza Dehghan |
| author_facet | Farnia Velayati Haleh Ayatollahi Morteza Hemmat Reza Dehghan |
| author_sort | Farnia Velayati |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Telehealth technology and related products can help to solve the problems associated with providing health care services and equal distribution of resources. However, in order to run a telehealth business successfully, key components and critical factors need to be taken into account. A telehealth business framework can provide a rich understanding of these components and factors. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework from the experts’ perspectives. Methods The present qualitative study was conducted in 2020. The participants were 22 experts in the fields of medical informatics, health information management, telemedicine, telehealth, health entrepreneurship, health insurance, and digital health start-ups. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, and the data were analyzed using framework analysis. Results Four main themes derived from data analysis. The themes included key components for developing a telehealth business framework, success factors, challenges, and barriers of a telehealth business. Overall, the results indicated that the key components in a telehealth business framework included created value, key resources, key activities, key partners, licenses and permissions, product pricing, revenue, marketing, supporting services, and getting feedback from customers. Although receiving support from different individuals and organizations as well as economic benefits of telehealth services may consider as success factors, there are a number of challenges and barriers which should be taken into account. Otherwise, these factors may hinder the success of a telehealth business. Conclusions The development of a telehealth business framework might be an important step towards developing a more complete business plan, facilitating the commercialization of telehealth products, and providing a solution for product sustainability in a competitive market. In the current study, the key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework were identified; however, further research is needed to explore how these components and factors can be helpful in developing business plans and running a successful telehealth business. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:53:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f637d059aab4d6e877db4153f289cab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6947 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:53:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f637d059aab4d6e877db4153f289cab2022-12-21T23:10:36ZengBMCBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making1472-69472021-12-012111910.1186/s12911-021-01707-3Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative studyFarnia Velayati0Haleh Ayatollahi1Morteza Hemmat2Reza Dehghan3Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical SciencesHealth Management and Economics Research Center, Heath Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Information Technology, Saveh University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Entrepreneurship, Virtual University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Telehealth technology and related products can help to solve the problems associated with providing health care services and equal distribution of resources. However, in order to run a telehealth business successfully, key components and critical factors need to be taken into account. A telehealth business framework can provide a rich understanding of these components and factors. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework from the experts’ perspectives. Methods The present qualitative study was conducted in 2020. The participants were 22 experts in the fields of medical informatics, health information management, telemedicine, telehealth, health entrepreneurship, health insurance, and digital health start-ups. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, and the data were analyzed using framework analysis. Results Four main themes derived from data analysis. The themes included key components for developing a telehealth business framework, success factors, challenges, and barriers of a telehealth business. Overall, the results indicated that the key components in a telehealth business framework included created value, key resources, key activities, key partners, licenses and permissions, product pricing, revenue, marketing, supporting services, and getting feedback from customers. Although receiving support from different individuals and organizations as well as economic benefits of telehealth services may consider as success factors, there are a number of challenges and barriers which should be taken into account. Otherwise, these factors may hinder the success of a telehealth business. Conclusions The development of a telehealth business framework might be an important step towards developing a more complete business plan, facilitating the commercialization of telehealth products, and providing a solution for product sustainability in a competitive market. In the current study, the key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework were identified; however, further research is needed to explore how these components and factors can be helpful in developing business plans and running a successful telehealth business.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-021-01707-3Small businessCommerceMedical informaticsTelemedicine |
| spellingShingle | Farnia Velayati Haleh Ayatollahi Morteza Hemmat Reza Dehghan Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making Small business Commerce Medical informatics Telemedicine |
| title | Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework a qualitative study |
| topic | Small business Commerce Medical informatics Telemedicine |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-021-01707-3 |
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