The American Board of Telehealth (ABT) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) are partnering to expand access to telehealth education and training.

The ABT offers high-quality, evidence-based education in the practice of telehealth to ensure best practices for implementing and using telemedicine across the care continuum.

“We are pleased to partner with the American Board of Telehealth to offer high quality, evidence-based telehealth education to our diverse membership,” said ATA’s chief executive officer Ann Mond Johnson. “ABT’s certificate programme is the gold standard for telehealth education, preparing healthcare providers to use telehealth and virtual care in the delivery of safe, effective, quality care to their patients, wherever and whenever they need it.

The ATA is focused solely on advancing telehealth. Its members represent a broad and inclusive network of healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology providers and payers, as well as partner organisations and alliances. As part of this collaboration, ATA members will receive discounted access to the ABT’s portfolio of certificate programmes.

“We share a common goal with ATA, that is to weave telehealth into the everyday fabric of health care,” said Deanna Larson, chief executive officer of Avera eCare and a founding board member of the ABT. “By improving access to quality education, we can help ensure effective care for all patients, particularly those in rural and underserved communities. We are thrilled to provide ATA’s fast-growing membership with the educational tools they need to ensure a successful future for telehealth.”

The ABT recently launched the Core Concepts in Telehealth certificate, which was developed by a group of nationally renowned experts with funding provided by The Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust. The curriculum consists of seven training modules:

• Introduction to telehealth
• Telepresence skills
• Technology
• Legal, regulatory and quality
• Licensing, credentialing and privileging
• Reimbursement
• Ethical considerations

In the coming weeks, ABT will also add a tele-behavioural certificate and tele-primary certificate to its portfolio. Course models are available online and may be used for Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits.

Through education, the ABT standardises the integration of safe, quality, cost-effective and accessible telehealth into the delivery of care. Through research and evidence-based telehealth education, the courses equip physicians, nurses, clinicians, educators and administrators with the competencies needed to deliver care to patients. Education and certificate programmes include CME and CNE, and are offered as both in-person and online learning opportunities. ABT’s curriculum was developed with telehealth physician and nurse experts from across the care continuum, as well as discipline-specific and specialty focused telehealth content.