Analysis and Development of Telemonitoring Applications: A Model-Based Approach

Abstract

In our article, we introduce a method for the model-based analysis and development of telemonitoring applications for the German healthcare system. Based on data from two exemplary telemonitoring applications in the fields of Parkinson’s disease and heart failure, we show which barriers exist to the widespread introduction of digital health applications (DHA) and what positive effects a consistent digitization of the interacting IT components and process steps would have. The method presented combines approaches from process modeling using business process model and notation (BPMN) and the consistent application of quality metrics to the modeled processes, the actors involved, and the IT components used or to be developed. By modeling different evolutionary stages of digitalization of medical care processes, the positive effects and possible barriers in terms of resource consumption, effectiveness, security, and efficiency can be identified on the basis of the metrics used. The aim of the article is to use the developed methods to identify critical process steps at an early stage of product development or transition from a research project to standard care and to identify potential for improvement in the interaction between organizations, service providers, patients, and technology providers.