Standardizing Competencies and Enhancing Professionalism Through a Telepresenter Certificate Program

Background: Telehealth researchers frequently identify barriers to telehealth delivery, but often their literature does not propose change management strategies to improve access to care through telehealth. Systematic reviews support findings that education and training are lacking to ensure high-quality telehealth delivery. Curriculum that addresses technical skills, provides a clinical perspective for addressing digital health care, and proposes best practices can build the foundation for a competent telehealth workforce — most crucially, telepresenters.

Objective: Recognizing an unmet need for standardized training for telepresenting health care professionals, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Connected Care (VA OCC) built on its prior telehealth experience to create a Telepresenter Certificate Program (TCP) in partnership with the University of Florida College of Nursing (UF CON). This paper describes the program’s curriculum, the educational methods used, and learners’ responses to a summative survey that evaluated the TCP’s impact.

Methods: VA OCC and UF CON created a curriculum encompassing two courses. The first course was an introduction to the current knowledge regarding digital health, including the role of clinical informatics, electronic health records, patient-generated health data, and trends in data use in health care. The second course helped learners understand required telehealth competencies through patient case scenarios and covered topics such as how to telepresent virtual medical exams and apply these skills in practice.

Results? Head here to find out: https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v9.503

• Rita Kobb, MSN, BSN, RN | National Lead for Training and Outreach; Quality, Training, and Knowledge Management, Office of Connected Care, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
• Guercie Jean-Baptiste, MSN, BSN, RN, ACNP | Accreditation Program Manager; Quality, Training, and Knowledge Management; Office of Connected Care; Veterans Health Administration; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Washington, DC.
• Harold Bonds, BS | Management and Program Analyst; Quality, Training, and Knowledge Management; Office of Connected Care; Veterans Health Administration; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Washington, DC.
• Rene Love, PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN | Associate Dean for Academic Affairs — Graduate Clinical Education and Clinical Professor; University of Florida College of Nursing; Gainesville, FL
• Catrell Harris, EdD, MPH, MCHES | Vice President Health Technology, Reingold, Inc, American Public University System Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA
• Tanya Morgan, PhD | Psychometrician, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, USA