Championing Telemedicine in New Zealand: The Case of Utilizing Video Conferencing in Psychiatry and Dermatology

This research explores the factors that could influence telemedicine success in two hospitals involved in a rural setting in New Zealand. Findings from the cases revealed that telemedicine utilising the video conferencing technology (TMVC) was adopted based on its cost-benefit to the hospitals. This is necessary but considering the impact of other factors, specifically the compatibility factor could have made the adoption decision more effective earlier on. The administration manager was the primary instigator of TMVC in psychiatry in one of the hospitals, whereas in the other hospital it was the dermatologist. Therefore, this research emphasises the importance of the tight coupling between the roles of both the management and the clinical champions for TMVC to succeed in New Zealand. However, the research results suggest the limited use of the technology in the cases.

[1]  James D. Campbell,et al.  Introducing Computer-Based Telemedicine in Three Rural Missouri Counties , 2001, J. Organ. End User Comput..

[2]  Terry L. Huston,et al.  Is telemedicine a practical reality? , 2000, CACM.

[3]  M Rademaker,et al.  Patient cost-benefits of realtime teledermatology-a comparison of data from Northern Ireland and New Zealand , 2000, Journal of telemedicine and telecare.

[4]  B L Charles,et al.  Telemedicine can lower costs and improve access. , 2000, Healthcare financial management : journal of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

[5]  A. Darkins,et al.  Telemedicine and Telehealth: Principles, Policies, Performance and Pitfalls , 2000 .

[6]  Careful telemedicine planning limits costly liability exposure. , 1999 .

[7]  G. Premkumar,et al.  Adoption of new information technologies in rural small businesses , 1999 .

[8]  James Y. L. Thong,et al.  An Integrated Model of Information Systems Adoption in Small Businesses , 1999, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[9]  Careful telemedicine planning limits costly liability exposure. , 1999, Healthcare financial management : journal of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

[10]  A M Oakley,et al.  Practising dermatology via telemedicine. , 1998, The New Zealand medical journal.

[11]  B Grigsby,et al.  4th annual telemedicine program review. Part 2: United States. , 1997, Telemedicine today.

[12]  James G. Anderson,et al.  Clearing the way for physicians' use of clinical information systems , 1997, CACM.

[13]  M Rademaker,et al.  Diagnostic accuracy of teledermatology: results of a preliminary study in New Zealand. , 1997, The New Zealand medical journal.

[14]  A. Hassol.  Surprises from the rural telemedicine survey. , 1996, Telemedicine today.

[15]  A. Oakley,et al.  Melanoma-diagnosis by telemedicine , 1996, Journal of telemedicine and telecare.

[16]  S. Elliot,et al.  Adoption and Implementation of IT: An Evaluation of the Applicability of Western Strategic Models to Chinese Firms , 1996 .

[17]  Izak Benbasat,et al.  Integrating Diffusion of Innovations and Theory of Reasoned Action models to predict utilization of information technology by end-users , 1996 .

[18]  Geoff Walsham,et al.  Interpretive case studies in IS research: nature and method , 1995 .

[19]  A. Allen,et al.  Telemedicine technology and clinical applications. , 1995, JAMA.

[20]  C J Austin,et al.  Information systems and strategic management , 1995, Health care management review.

[21]  G. Wyman.  The maturing of telemedicine technology. Part 1. , 1994, Health systems review.

[22]  C. James Bacon,et al.  The Use of Decision Criteria in Selecting Information Systems/Technology Investments , 1992, MIS Q..

[23]  Izak Benbasat,et al.  Development of an Instrument to Measure the Perceptions of Adopting an Information Technology Innovation , 1991, Inf. Syst. Res..

[24]  Rudy Hirschheim,et al.  Information systems research : contemporary approaches & emergent traditions : proceedings of the IFIP TC8/WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Information Systems Research Arena of the 90's Challenges, Perceptions, and Alternative Approaches : Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-16 December 1990 , 1991 .

[25]  W. J. Harvey,et al.  Information Systems for Health Services Administration , 1988 .

[26]  R. Yin.  Case Study Research: Design and Methods , 1984 .

[27]  L. G. Tornatzky,et al.  Innovation characteristics and innovation adoption-implementation: A meta-analysis of findings , 1982, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.