UNC Hospital is a medium size regional hospital located about 30 minutes away from durham, NC. They are a 130-bed state of the art institution. The hospital has an emergency department, hospice, ICU, Maternity, Heart & Vascular, and Pediatrics. They also have an Imaging, Rehab, and 3 primary clinics, wound care, and home care. There are 110 physicians, 1200 employees, and over 100 volunteers.

Their home health department provides services that allow patients to avoid constant trips to the hospital. For example, patients' blood pressure, heart rate, and glucose level are taken with a device that is hooked to their bed and the data is transmitted to the hospital. Homebound are able to use lifeline necklaces and/or bracelet devices if they need assistance. Clinicians make occasional visits to monitor progress and ensure technology is working properly.

The Home health department has relocated from the main hospital to its own standalone facility near the main hospital. The current software being used is 10 years old and has difficulty keeping up with billing and regulatory changes as well as the growing needs within the environment.

Currently, home health services use devices to measure vitals and glucose levels. They also use lifeline necklaces. What other devices/technologies would you suggest to improve on patient care? Identify three things that would impact the hospital's plans to move forward with new devices/technologies.