This toolkit overviews the common steps in evaluating technology for your program, as well as best practices for gathering and documenting data during the assessment process. This toolkit focuses on broader concepts related to technology assessment, as opposed to the more device-specific guidance provided in other toolkits offered by TTAC. It describes the various steps in the process, as well as identifies some of the information that should be gathered and documented in any evaluation process.
In the following video Kathy Chorba, Executive Director for the California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC), introduces Technology Assessment and some of the common questions organizations ask.
Technology assessment can be an intimidating endeavor for an organization, as often many of the needed skills for technology assessment are not well-developed in a clinical environment. Fortunately, much of the work, when broken down and organized, can become manageable and feasible for those who are tasked with doing it. The technology assessment process can be organized into 3 phases with 7 steps:
Needs Assessment– Understand the needs of your program and the solutions that might meet them.
- Step 1: Establish Requirements
- Step 2: Market Review
Testing– Create, execute, and communicate a repeatable testing process that evaluates devices against your organizational needs.
- Step 3: Procure Devices
- Step 4: Plan Tests
- Step 5: Test the Plan
Deployment and Support– Purchase, deploy, and support selected devices.
- Step 6: Select Device
- Step 7: Deploy
Click here to read an overview of the entire process, or click the above links to view information on each segment of the toolkit. Additionally, the slides from a webinar on technology assessment, and a printable technology assessment checklist are available here.