Why did we do the study?
The TAP-App is the custom-built internet-based application that is an integral part of Health TAPESTRY. The TAP-App allows volunteers to collection client information, helps the volunteer coordinators manage appointments, and allows the primary care teams to receive information about clients and request more information as needed. The TAP-App was created for the first implementation of Health TAPESTRY and has undergone many changes for the current implementation.
Through the development and evolution of the TAP-App, we describe how the TAP-App, and similar technologies can support integrated care. In other words, help connect the health care system with community and social care systems.
What did we learn?
The Five Key Learnings:
1. Iterative feedback is valuable
- It is important to get feedback throughout the entire development implementation of a new technology from the users
2. If a new technology will be used for research, develop it with research in mind
- If a new technology will also be used for research, developers should consider the needs of both the intervention/program and the research
3. Prepare thoughtfully for challenges with the integration of a new technology into existing workflow
- A new technology should support users and their current workflows to help users adopt the technology more easily
4. Ask: Should interoperability be the goal?
- A new technology (e.g., the TAP-App) may never be fully integrated with existing technology like an electronic medical record system – and maybe that is okay
5. Know that technology cannot not do it alone… yet
- Technology may not be able to do all the tasks needed within a program, or there may be some tasks that would be better if a human does them.
Full article can be found here:
Di Pelino S, Lamarche L, Carr T, Datta J, Gaber J, Oliver D, Gallagher J, Dragos S, Price D, & Mangin D. (2022). Lessons learned through two-phases of developing and implementing a technology supporting integrated care: A case study. JMIR Formative Research, 6: 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/34899.