Under the Tech Umbrella: Assessing the Landscape of Telemedicine Innovations (Telemechron Study)

Abstract

The expanding role of technology assessment in telemedicine is the focus of this study. An umbrella review has been proposed to delve into emerging themes within telemedicine technology assessment by scrutinizing systematic reviews gathered from PubMed and Scopus. The proposed approach was based on a standard narrative checklist and a qualification process. The selection process identified 20 systematic reviews. The main findings underscore the transformative potential of telemedicine, emphasizing technology assessments focused on systematic evaluations, stakeholder engagement, societal impact recognition, targeted interventions, and structured frameworks. While offering valuable insights, the current studies highlight certain limitations that require attention. There is a need for the following: (I) First of all, a more focused approach, primarily centered on a process-centric, multidomain, and generalizable technology assessment (TA). (II) A deeper analysis in specific healthcare areas, including a comprehensive examination of the cost–benefit ratio, peer-to-peer interactions, and a broader inclusion of diagnostic technologies. (III) Greater emphasis on the involved stakeholders, ranging from patients to stakeholders. In conclusion, this study contributes to a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the continually evolving landscape in telemedicine technology assessment, offering valuable insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers alike. Researchers are encouraged to further explore both the established and emerging themes identified in this study.

Keywords

• telemedicine
• digital health
• technology assessment
• digital healthcare