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Venture Analysis
ETEC522 for Dr. Vogt and Dr. Porter
by Leah R (leahbio)
Medical and client information privacy concerns (IEP information)
Budget constraints / Technological Needs or equipment failure
PresenceLearning greatly diminishes the costly expense of one-to-one therapy sessions in a medical setting that a school district or parent would have to pay. Their rates are competitive, equipment is provided but they there is no mention if it will be fixed or be adaptable to learners needs. Some of the additional devices that would be needed not mentioned on their site are listed below:
Digital videoconferencing device
Compatibility with other devices/peripherals
Monitor
Sound system – microphones/sound cards
Internet connection Access
Bandwidth Security
Document cameras
Scanners/printers/fax
Accessibility to equipment may be an issue if learners request therapy from home outside of school on a regular basis.
A huge concern with this particular venture is the medical nature that it entails.
As an analyst I am perplexed by privacy concerns given learners are treated online but still within a medical realm, so privacy and digital citizenship laws would ensue. Learners, parents and administrators must be aware of their rights as concerned consumers.
Special education files and information are private and confidential in a school setting, how do they address these concerns online? Here is some criteria from Brennan et al., (2010) that address these issues:
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"Organizations and/or professionals shall have traceable documentation and shall be aware of the advanced requirements for privacy and confidentiality associated with provision of services through telehealth technology at both the originating site and remote setting. They shall comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and codes for technology and technical safety". They shall comply with federal and state regulations for protection of client health information and to ensure the physical security of telehealth equipment and the electronic security of data storage, retrieval, and transmission. Methods for protection of health information include the use of authentication and/or encryption technology, and limiting access to need-to-know" (p.33)
As more online learning becomes much more common, meeting the needs of all learners with exceptionalities continues to present challenges. Few laws address special education in online programs. The most pertinent ones are the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (For the purposes of this assignment since the venture caters to American students, these are the American laws that are relevant). The online environment is the same as a traditional classroom environment in which rights and responsibilities of learners must be honoured. These are not addressed in the learning venture.
This venture has extensive advisors with hefty credentials for Speech Language Therapy but not for Occupational Therapy (OT). OT Is a significant part of the services they offer to K12 students but it is not addressed as well as SLT component.
Laws and statutes for Individuals with Disabilities
Limited advisor support and credibility for OT
CRITIQUE: Weaknesses, Opportunities
Despite the many strengths of this venture, many concerns arise as a potential investor from an analysts point of view that are not explicitly addressed on their venture site.
Licensing and Regulations of services
Telepractice is growing in its reach within the U.S. market but its raising a lot of questions regarding licensing and regulations. The "site of services" has never been written explicitly in any current legislative American laws. Current legal practices indicate that the location of the client determines the state in which the practitioner must be licensed. So if the practitioner is offering services to a learner in a different state, regardless of telepracticing online, they require an additional licence for that state(Telepractice, p.28)
This lends to infrastructure and regulatory dimensions that this venture must consider when catering to various school districts or charter academies out of state or within their jurisdiction. Regulations must be enforced with any SLP or OT that is hired to offer students any services. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have some form of policy on telepractice but that is a significantly small number in comparison to the needs of students, district, state and accessibility of services online.
The present state-based system of licensure within the United States certainly does not improve telepractice across state lines. Clients and practitioners suffer from a lack of access. For learners or districts the access to telepractice services are then limited due to economic, mobility or geographic constraints. As an educational venture analyst, I think that this would prove to be very frustrating for learners and administrators alike. Making the process time-consuming and superfluous if learners are outside the state lines of license.
Criteria that is not addressed that should be considered with this venture for learners and clients taking their services. These are outlined in Brennan et al., 2010, pg.32
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"Organizations and/or professionals shall be aware of their locus of accountability and any requirements (including those for liability insurance) that apply when practicing telerehabilitation. This includes credentialing requirements at the site where the practitioner is located and the site where the client is located (which may be different states or jurisdictions), in compliance with regulatory and accrediting agencies."
Licensing and Regulations of services
Faculty members, educators and school districts as a whole must have greater awareness and knowledge of telepractice and its offerings online, prior to a district or administrators push to buy into the product. It is still a costly venture if bought for an entire school and the needs of the students have to be put first if they will be a right fit for the program.
Some students may have both a cognitive and communicative impairment in which case the technological component of this service would not be beneficial to their specific needs. It would have to benefit the entire Special Education department students as a whole.
As an educator, I would only recommend the services of PresenceLearning if it would benefit all of my students , was cost effective within our budget, and if we had the necessary technological software to allow as many students as possible access. Certainly further knowledge in statistical motivation and academic achievement would need to be demonstrated.