As we continue to tackle the challenges caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic it has become increasingly important to understand and utilize telehealth.

Telehealth is defined as “the provision of healthcare remotely by means of telecommunications technology.” In a time where we must practice social distancing, this practice has become critical.

With the help of USTTI Course sponsor the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System, Office of Telemedicine; we would like to provide you with the following resources.

UVA Telemedicine: Telehealth Services (https://uvahealth.com/services/telemedicine)

Here you will find information on what Telehealth services UVA provides and how they provide them.

This site includes why a patient would choose a telemedicine appointment and services that are offered for those with diabetes, prediabetes and heart disease. Additionally, for healthcare providers, is a list of resources that are provided via telehealth video-conferencing: Case conferences, education, staff support, etc.

Here you will also find a video on using telemedicine for patient care. Please spend some time browsing the website for further resources.

Mid Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (https://www.matrc.org/matrc-telehealth-resources-for-covid-19/)

Published on March 24^th, 2020 and updated on April 3^rd, 2020, this is a jam-packed resource center from the Mid Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC) that is specifically targeting telehealth responses and guidelines for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

There are instructions for starting a telehealth program, tookilts for where to start and policy issues for COVID-19, HIPPA compliance and much more. This site also includes instructional videos.

While these are two resources that are recommended to the USTTI, there are a number of other resources available on the internet. Below are some resources found on the World health Organization Website:

Telehealth in the Developing World by Richard Wooton, Richard Wootton, Nivritti G. Patil, Richard E. Scott, and Kendall Ho https://www.idrc.ca/en/book/telehealth-developing-world?PublicationID=57

How can telehealth help in the provision of integrated healthcare?  By Karl A. Stroetmann, Lutz Kubitschke Simon Robinson, Veli Stroetmann Kevin Cullen, David McDaid http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/120998/E94265.pdf?ua=1

Please use these resources and refer to guidance by the WHO and your home countries as we all look to remain safe and take care of each other.