"Ikke alle piloter flyr" : implementering av telemedisin i norske kommuner

Abstract

Running pilots is a widespread way of conducting innovations in the Norwegian health service, many of these projects are not implemented permanently or lead to lasting changes in services. Solutions based on Telemedicine are being tested, but the implementation rate does not match the existing ambitions. The aim of this study is to gain increased knowledge of some of the factors that are required for pilot projects in Telemedicine to go from pilots to permanent solutions, especially focused on stakeholders and their role. The thesis question is «What is the significance of different stakeholders in the municipality for piloting and implementing a telemedicine solution for interaction? »With reference to stakeholder theory and a reference model, the studywas conducted through a qualitative, comparative study of pilot projects within five Norwegian municipalities. Data is collected through semi-structured focus group interviews with important participants in the projects. All interviews are conducted using video conferencing. Three of the pilots was implemented and several stakeholders were involved. Especially important for implementation was securing the commitment of the top leaders, time saved in travel and project champions to run the projects. Withan actor-basedview on the stakeholders, some of the variations are explained due to the knowledge and experience of the individuals involved. At the same time, personal gains seem crucial for success. The findings indicatethat the important aspects of this study are to be aware of “What’s in it for me?” This shows that the stakeholder perspective in researchabout piloting and innovation within telemedicineis highly relevant and may be used to increase our knowledge about what makes certain pilot projects succeed. Keywords: Implementation, pilots, telemedicine, innovation, interaction, municipality, stakeholders