DESIGNING A TELEHEALTH PROGRAM FOR A HOSPICE CARE CENTER IN LEBANON

Abstract

Telehealth is a booming topic nowadays that support the delivery of health care, health education, and health information services via remote technologies. Telehealth use has highly increased during the coronavirus pandemic encompassing in-patient care services as well as community health services such as hospice home care. This project proposes a telehealth program for a hospice care center in Lebanon to alleviates the nursing shortage burden and overcomes geographic distances in the delivery of hospice services. The methodology used to design the program included a literature review to identify the guiding principles and best practices for designing a telehealth program. In addition, a need analysis and environmental analysis was done to have a clear picture about the nature and scope of services needed, and to estimate the cost and benefits of the program. Accordingly, a comprehensive implementation plan was developed detailing the target population, the inclusion/exclusion criteria, the workflow design of tele-hospice services, the human and material resources needed, and the essential guiding tools such as a telehealth practice policy, a tele hospice consent form, and a telehealth visit guide for nurses. The program steps presented in this project can serve as a high-level guide to those who are planning to initiate a cost-efficient tele-hospice program.