Utility of a Technology Allocation Matrix for Optimizing Telehealth Services: A Case Study of Telemonitoring in Congestive Heart Failure

Information exchange in telehealth ultimately comprises basic activities such as measurement, storage, analysis, distribution, presentation and monitoring of relevant text/image/audio/video data. A systematic technology mapping matrix is a sensible and cost-effective approach to enable the scientifically sound deployment of appropriate telehealth technologies. This paper takes the example of congestive heart failure (CHF) telemonitoring and applies elements of the matrix to illustrate its utility. Though CHF is a global problem with grave implications for public health and society, morbidity and mortality remains high. Despite clinical similarities that may exist among patients in different parts of the world, telemonitoring may not be feasible everywhere; and even when it is, significant modifications in approach would be needed to accommodate available infrastructure, funding mechanisms and patient/clinician preferences. For the success of any telehealth program, in addition to incorporating appropriate technology there must be focus on end-user needs and incorporating viable sustainability models.