Telehealth Best Practices and Uses

Telehealth uses technology tools such as a cellphone or laptop to give patients and doctors the ability to support healthcare communication and services remotely. The field of telehealth has seen tremendous growth, with telehealth use increasing across all specialties and becoming even more accessible. This course is designed for healthcare professionals and employees in organizations that practice telehealth or are aspiring to work within the field. As a leading pioneer in the field of telehealth, UC Davis Health began offering telehealth services in 1992 and providing a formal telehealth academic curriculum in 1999. Go beyond the foundational knowledge of technology tools employed and telehealth applications. Learn about the most effective practices in implementation, regulatory compliance, and how to practice with a health equity lens. With insight from the CEO of UC Davis Health, David Lubarsky, you will leave the course better able to improve your telehealth practice and focus on the elements of telehealth that matter most to your organization and to the patients you serve.

• Getting Started and Telehealth: Operations
• In this module, you will be able to understand the role of telehealth in the healthcare continuum and recognize the three types of telehealth. You will be able to explain the different roles and relationships of the participants in different encounter types. You will be able understand the benefits to the participants in the different encounter types and explain how telehealth can address the six domains of healthcare quality. You will be able to identify who can benefit from telehealth using different perspectives and review common applications of telehealth. You will also be able to explore the return on investment in specific settings.
• Telehealth: Equity
• In this module, you'll be able to define health equity and discuss the components of it. You will also be able to define health disparities and discuss the impact of health inequity on health disparities. You will be able to understand the ways in which telehealth is designed to promote health equity and recognize the ways in which it has also promote health equity. You will be able to understand the importance of monitoring the impacts that telehealth technology has on relevant outcomes and understand that although these technologies have potential to promote health equity, we must recognize the ways in which telehealth does not equitably benefit diverse populations. Finally, you will be able to recognize that telehealth equity issues are an understudied area and, as a result, we must be aware of the possible unintended consequences of these tools so that these innovative technologies improve, rather than exacerbate, existing disparities.
• Telehealth: Best Practices
• In this module, you will be able to recognize the role of Institutional Culture plays in telemedicine and be able to explore the cultural framework for your organization and establish expectations. You will be able to recognize different telehealth modalities and understand the dynamics of a telehealth visit. You will be able to recognize and apply best practices for a provider during a telehealth visit and be able to standardize the approach to both the physical and virtual office space. You will be able to implement Clinical Practice Guidelines and recognize the steps in the coordination of care. You will be able to prepare for support, explore both the SPIKES and NURSE protocols, and be able to communicate bad news empathetically and effectively.
• Telehealth: Elements of Success
• In this module, you will be able to recognize the effect of organizational design on a telehealth program. You will be able to determine drivers for program utilization and be able to monitor program using Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) methods. You will also be able to identify elements of appropriate program management and plan for technical needs of users. You will be able to compare and contrast licensure and credentialing and follow state licensure compacts. You will be able to recognize the different state and federal policies for reimbursement, prescribing, privacy and security as well as be able to explore other laws and regulations that impact telehealth.