National

Technology Guideposts - Generic

1.      Bandwidth increases and becomes less expensive

+4

2.      Expanding availability of two-way, high quality, live interactive video communication

+3

3.      Industry movement of mainframe applications onto web based platform

+4

4.      Increased strategic partnerships that offer interactive, web-based continuing education

+3

5.      Identification of genetic determinants underlying common diseases

+3

6.      Measurable outcomes determine that effective learning is taking place via the Internet

+2

7.      High bandwidth interactive communication of voice, data and video

+4

8.      Evolution of wireless technology

+4

9.      Limited technologies favorable clinical trials with consumer informatics capture (i.e. palm pilots)

10.  Artificial intelligence technology that is available and reliable

+2

11.  Increasing use of bio-informatics/genomics in research and clinical medicine

+4

12.  Growth of regional, state, and national Information Technology infrastructure and Internet access in rural areas

+4

13.  Increase in number of employees who work at home or other non-traditional locations and flexible work schedules

+4

Technology Guideposts - Clinical Services

1.      Expansion of Telehealth technology

+4

2.      Virtual electronic patient records that transparently, but with adequate security, integrate disparate databases are developed and used

+3

3.      Increased use of telemedicine for consultations

+4

4.      International acceptance of Telehealth – number of countries accepting telemedicine

+2

5.      The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) becomes the norm (i.e., in hospitals, multi-specialty clinics)

+2

6.      Increasing availability of web-based EMR products

+1

7.      Consumers are monitored and interviewed primarily through home monitoring devices and Internet technologies

+1

Technology Guideposts - Education

1.      Number of courses offered exclusively on-line by health science schools (including medical schools).

+1

2.      Number of health science schools giving credit for completion of online courses from other sources/schools

0

3.      Students cite the web site as an important element in convincing them to apply for and attend UTMB

+2

Technology Guideposts - Research

1.      Data mining of human genome database

+4

2.      High band width interactive communication of voice, data and video

+3

3.      Evolution of wireless technology

+4

4.      Drug discovery, especially gene and protein-based

+4

5.      Internet submission of grant applications

+3

6.      Expedited review of applications

7.      Internet publication of scientific reports increases

+3

8.      Demise of the “printed” scientific journal

+3

9.      Computer models that will reduce wet laboratory testing requirements

+2

10.  Increased participation in use of technology based research data bases

+4

11.  Use of genome to predict therapeutic responses

+4

National

Consumerism Guideposts - Generic

1.      Consumer advocacy groups increase societal pressure for improved medical outcomes

+3

2.      Consumers seek out research programs that are designed to treat their specific disease or health condition

+3

3.      Single payer system (voucher) developed

0

4.      National media attention on information technology malfeasance

0

Consumerism Guideposts - Clinical Services

1.      Consumers are monitored and interviewed primarily through home monitoring devices and internet technologies

+1

2.      Increase in public availability, and awareness of provider’s medical outcomes and reputation

+2

3.      Increased use of web-based patient education by providers

+1

4.      Increased number of visits to health care organization websites

+4

5.      Increased use of alternative and complementary therapies

+3

6.      Increased consumer utilization of e-Medicine information sites

+3

7.      Public acceptance of e-Medicine practice

+2

8.      Rankings of Telehealth program quality are published by independent groups (governmental or consumer)

0

9.      Increasing use of high quality telemedicine programs by patients

+2

10.  Use of email and web for patient-physician communication increases

+2

Consumerism Guideposts - Education

1.      All health science schools commonly offer some courses exclusively on-line

+1

2.      All health science schools commonly give credit for successful completion of online courses from other sources/schools

0

3.      Accrediting agencies accept and/or endorse the practice of awarding credit for courses offered exclusively online

+1

4.      Increased strategic partnerships that offer interactive, web-based continuing education

+2

5.      Ability to dissolve political and stereotypical boundaries to be able to focus on team-based learning

+1

6.      All health science schools commonly offer courses, both on- and off-line in alternative and complementary therapies

+1

7.      Rankings of distance education program quality are published by independent groups (governmental or consumer)

0

8.      Increasing use of high quality distance education programs by students and practitioners

+2

9.      Increased alumni loyalty towards the institution as the source of their life-long learning

+2

10.  School and program accreditation criteria will reflect wellness, prevention of illness, and end of life care

+1

11.  Increased participation by non traditional students

+2

12.  Acceptance of older and traditional “schools of thought” as solid curricula, i.e., holistic medicine, end-of-life care

+2

13.  Increased participation of workforce in life-long learning activities to keep pace with changing healthcare job market

+3

Consumerism Guideposts - Research

1.      Pharmaceutical companies increasing seek collaborations with a limited number of academic health center’s (AMC) with reputations for expertise in new technology research projects

+3

National

Economic Guideposts - Generic

1.      Expanding development of partnerships with businesses and health care organizations

+3

2.      MGMA and AAMC data reflect increase in expenditures for information technology

+3

3.      Insurance companies/managed care organizations appoint e-CMO’s

0

4.      Centralized research operation results in strategic relationship with a variety of drug companies

+2

5.      AMC’s are competing for drug company partnerships and ability to coordinate large, multi-facility studies

+3

6.      The percent of AMC sub-contracts as an indicator of interactions with other institutions

+1

7.      Increased number of AMC and community partnerships (funded grants)

+2

Economic Guideposts - Clinical Services

1.      Insurance companies compensate for email/internet consults

+1

2.      Revenue generated by Telehealth programs nationwide increases

+1

3.      CMS (formerly HCFA) and MCO establish documentation and billing guidelines for Telehealth practitioners

+1

Economic Guideposts - Education

1.      The demand and utilization of online educational programs by students, alumni, and other target groups is sufficient to justify continuing investment in the development of these programs

+2

2.      All health science schools commonly coordinate courses, both on- and off-line, across schools to avoid duplication and increase collaboration

+1

3.      Revenue generated by distance education programs nationwide increases

+2

4.      Student recruitment for cyber-education is competitive and provides sufficient return on investment (ROI)

+2

5.      Institutions commit to and support continuing education delivered electronically

+2

6.      The demand and utilization of online educational programs by students, alumni, and other target groups is sufficient to justify continuing investment in the development of these programs

+1

Economic Guideposts - Research

1.      Increase in corporate and private sector funding

+2

2.      Funding for data mining of human genome database increases

+4

3.      Increase in the number of business starts from technology transfer