Transcript The TelAbility Project Using Telecommunications to Improve

Building a Southeastern Community
of Caring in North Carolina
Joshua J. Alexander, MD,
Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed, and
Libby Rogers, LPT
Today’s Agenda
Introductions
 Overview of TelAbility/WATCH
 Building a Community of Collaboration
in the Wilmington area
 Questions
 Complete Survey
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Who Are We?
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Joshua Alexander, MD
Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation and TelAbility Program Director
UNC School of Medicine
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Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed
TelAbility/WATCH Project Director
Who are You?
Name
 Field of discipline and you agency
 Knowledge of TelAbility/WATCH?
 Experience with videoconferencing?
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Sticky note
File folder
Three ring binder
TelAbility
(http://www.telability.org)
An Internet-Based
Telehealth Program For
Young Children with Disabilities
Building a Community of Practice
“A group of people who share a concern, set of
problems, or passion about a topic and who deepen
their knowledge and expertise in this area by
interaction on an ongoing basis.”
WATCH
Wake Area
Telehealth Collaborative
Helping Children
with special needs
WATCH
includes…
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Inclusive Child Care
Settings
Services Agencies
Residential Care
Programs
State Agencies
(CDSA and School
system)
Current
Programming
Website Content /Expertise Directory
List serv
Newsletters
Videoconferencing
Wake County Services and
Resources for Children 0-5
webpage
What does the
webpage do?
The webpage is a searchable database
where anyone can select specific fields
to find the services they need.
 Agencies that match their needs will be
sorted and listed.
 When you click the link for the agency
all the agency data will be provided.
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Other Website Features
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Expertise Directory
Handouts
Links
Calendar
Books
Articles
Videos
More!
Videoconferencing
Videoconsults
Videoclinics
Professional Development
Sessions
Point to point meetings
(administrative, family visits, etc.)
6 Years of Success
in Wilmington
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January 2002-June 2008
In the past 6 years there have been a total
of 101 videoconferences held between
TelAbility and families and professionals in
the Wilmington area.
Videoclinic and
Videoconsults
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70 videoclinics/consults have been held
 Involving 554 families, therapists, and medical
personnel
 Satisfaction level average =4.7 out of 5.0
 Comfort level average = 4.95 out of 5.0
 Families saved a total of over $7,500.00 in travel
mileage and 250 hours in travel time.
 Average savings per videoclinic is 309 miles
($156.00) and 5 hours in travel time.
Professional
Development
Opportunities
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11 Professional Development opportunities
have occurred with therapists in the
Wilmington area
 56 area therapists have participated (including
school system, private agencies, and CDSA staff)
 Satisfaction level average =4.0 out of 5.0
 Comfort level average =4.4 out of 5.0
 Total mileage savings= $8,484
 Total hours saved=616
Professional
Development
Continued..
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Sessions were held free of charge to
participants
Session were coordinated through TelAbility
and with help from Libby Rogers
Infant Toddler Certification credit was offered
for all sessions
Some of the session topics included:
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The Use of Standardized Tests in Early Intervention
Gross Motor Delays for Children with Visual Impairments
Advanced Feeding Techniques
The Uses of Electrical Stimulation
Brachial Plexus
The Use of Theratogs
Using the GMFM and GMFCS
Administrative
Meetings
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13 Administrative meetings have been held between the Early
Intervention Branch, individual CDSA’s, Commissions, and
Committees
 Involving 98 administrators
 Satisfaction level average = 4.2 out of 5.0
 Administrators saved a total of $14,847 in travel mileage and
490 hours in travel time.
Networking
Sessions
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7 Networking sessions have been held
via videoconference
35 people participated
Satisfaction level average= 4.5 out of 5.0
Comfort level average= 5.0 out of 5.0
Total mileage savings= $5,303
Total hours saved= 175
Wilmington Data
Recap…
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101 videoconference sessions have been
held between January 2002 and June
2008.
Approximately 750 people have participated
in videoconference sessions.
Average Satisfaction level= 4.3 out of 5.0
Average Comfort level= 4.8 out of 5.0
Total driving hours saved=over 2000
Total mileage savings= over $36,000.
Videoconference
Benefits for
Providers
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Improves communication and care coordination
efforts
Increases professional development and education
opportunities
Increases collaboration with other locations and
professionals
Reduces professional isolation across the state
Responsive to their needs and interests
Reduces travel time and costs
Videoconference
Benefits for
Parents
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Improves communication, education, and
care coordination efforts
Responsive to their needs and interests
Reduces isolation
Reduces travel time and costs
Allows for long range care coordination (from
IT program to Preschool to School system)
No extra charge to use the technology
The Recipe for Building a Successful
Community of Practice
You will need:
1 Champion for Your Cause
A respected leader in the community,
committed to investing in and sustaining
the program.
Can articulate the benefits.
Has access to resources and can build
infrastructure.
1 Collaborative Coordinator
 Detail oriented person who can make the
infrastructure work.
 Facilitates communication among collaborative
members.
 Responds to needs and concerns.
 Builds relationships within and among
collaborative members.
 Requires support and resources. (personnel and
funding)
Collaborative Coordinator should also be…
 Non-territorial
 Credible (know the field)
 Trusted by the participating agencies
 Involved
Inquisitive and responsive
1 Technical Support Contact
 Responsive with the ability to problem
solve.
 Makes the technology easy for your
members to use.
 Provides on-site training and face to
face support.
Member Buy-in
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Search out the experts in your community.
Start with agencies committed to the mission.
What are their areas of strength and need?
Where are the gaps?
What are the common goals?
How can you help them meet their goals?
Give them what they need.
Build sustainability.
Question to
Consider…
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What is your need?
How would a telehealth collaborative help to
meet those needs?
Who would you look to be a part of your
collaborative? (agencies, services)
What services could your agency offer the
collaborative?
Who might be your champions?
What do you see as the initial challenges?
WATCH2
Wake/Wilmington Areas
Telehealth Collaborative
Helping Children
with special needs
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What would this look like in this area?
Potential for funding from the
Cape Fear Memorial
Foundation
Discussion
Questions
 Who
are your champions?
Discussion
Questions
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What are the strengths of this area?
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What are the strengths of your
programs?
Discussion
Questions
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What is the area’s greatest need?
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What are your agencies greatest
needs?
Discussion
Questions
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What are your current challenges to
meeting your needs?
Discussion
Questions
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How do you see this community
utilizing the Collaborative’s
resources?
Website
Listserv
Newsletter
Videoconferences (clinics/consults,
education)
Discussion
Questions
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What do you see as the biggest barriers
to buy in and participation?
What will it take?
Reciprocal participation
 Sweat equity
 Enthusiasm
 Thinking outside the box
 Belief in the network
 Feedback and responsiveness
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“Instead of all competing or working as
separate entities, WATCH allows for us
all to come together for the greater good
of the child and family.”
Future Goals
Questions?