Needs assessment and prioritization of key medical specialties: A telemedicine roadmap based on a mixed-methods framework.

Introduction: In an era where geographical distance has become a barrier to equitable access to health services, an intelligent needs assessment of medical specialties is the key to enabling effective telemedicine. A systematic needs assessment of medical specialties is the cornerstone in designing a telemedicine roadmap. This study aimed to identify and prioritize key specialties based on needs-based criteria for the development of telemedicine in the community covered by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This study's methodology was modeled on the "need-based planning framework for telemedicine services" developed by the University of Queensland, Australia. A mixed approach was used in the study design. In the first three steps, quantitative and qualitative data were collected to identify the community's specialized medical needs. In the fourth step, the identified needs were prioritized. Results: A total of 11 specialties, including neurosurgery, cardiology, general surgery, general internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, neurology, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, imaging, and urology, were identified as key priority specialties needed for the development of telemedicine in the community covered by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. These specialties were prioritized into eight ranks based on need-based criteria. Conclusion: By identifying and prioritizing 11 key medical specialties, this study has laid a valuable foundation for the development of telemedicine services. Its findings provide policymakers with an effective guide to strategically allocate resources toward prioritized specialties, enhance technological infrastructure, and implement relevant educational programs, thereby ensuring equitable access to services and taking a significant step toward advancing justice in healthcare.