Introducing telemedicine as a strategic intent

In many settings, the introduction of new technologies has failed. In the healthcare industry, the implementation of telemedicine-which uses technology in ways that revolutionize the delivery process of healthcare-has failed more often than not. Reasons abound, but one of the most critical features when introducing a technology or process that will profoundly alter an organization is that the technology or process be implemented as a strategic intent; deliberate, championed and strongly led from the top, not from within a single department or functional area. The paper discusses the introduction of telemedicine as strategic intent.