Presenting a model for telemedicine implementation: A case study of Ahvaz Jundishapur University ‎of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Aim: Implementing telemedicine can help reduce costs and improve quality and equity access to health services. Simultaneously with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, telemedicine has become one of the priorities of the Ministry of Health of Iran. This study aimed to provide a model for the implementation of telemedicine in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present study was conducted in 2020 with various reviews descriptive and qualitative methods. In this first study, the implementation requirements of telemedicine were determined using a review study. In the second step, physicians' familiarity with expertise in telemedicine was assessed. In the third step, the current infrastructure (admirative and technical) of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences in the field of telemedicine was examined. Then a model for telemedicine implementation was proposed. This template was provided to 25 experts in the form of a questionnaire. Results: The telemedicine implementation model for Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences was approved by experts in a Delphi round. The final model consisted of 12 main axes and 180 components. Conclusion: The proposed model in the present study can assist medical universities in planning telemedicine implementation.