Made possible by a $15.9 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the AHA Center for Telehealth aims to provide high-quality telehealth education and resources. By collaborating with the telehealth community, the centre will provide evidence-based telehealth education, telehealth certification for healthcare professionals, and deliver solutions that maximise telehealth access for everyone, improving clinical quality.

Driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, telehealth utilisation has soared by 400 per cent and is now used by a quarter of patients – exceeding the 5 per cent who accessed their care this way before the pandemic. It’s estimated that about $250 billion – or 20 per cent – of all Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payer outpatient, clinic and home health spending could potentially be delivered via virtual care. Additionally, the latest data from non-profit FAIR Health shows that hypertension made up 14 per cent of asynchronous telehealth diagnoses.

“Over the past three years, a huge proportion of care has shifted to the virtual landscape, as clinicians and patients search for a safe, reliable way to receive needed care,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive of the American Heart Association. “Telehealth as a method of care delivery can potentially transform the healthcare system, reducing costs and increasing quality, patient focus and patient satisfaction.”

The AHA Center for Telehealth aims to accelerate the integration of telehealth into the general healthcare delivery system. Through this model of care, health inequalities can be addressed, so that where a patient lives does not dictate the type and quality of care they receive.

Building on a foundation of professional education, individual professional certification, implementation science, and patient engagement, the AHA Center for Telehealth will seek to: improve the knowledge, skills and competency of healthcare professionals’ delivery of telehealth services; establish and disseminate best practices and quality standards to guide telehealth integration into chronic disease management; and build the evidence base for telehealth integration.

Evidence suggests that telehealth can make care more effective, accessible and efficient, particularly for those who otherwise lack access. Telehealth can also help address physician burnout by reducing the journey times of clinicians and allowing more time for direct patient care.

“It’s vital that providers develop competencies through proper training and possess the tools to provide quality and equitable telehealth services,” said Walter Panzirer, a trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “We’re committed to ensuring that providers have access to the latest, evidence-based resources to deliver telehealth, operationally and clinically, to improve patient outcomes.

“The delivery of optimal virtual care starts with gold-standard telehealth education that advances the skills of healthcare professionals, and we’re pleased to support the American Heart Association as a leader and trustworthy source of telehealth resources that benefit patients, healthcare professionals and health systems.”