Preparing the workforce for telehealth practice: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Digital Health
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Telehealth and virtual care are increasingly integrated into healthcare delivery.
• Existing health professional training may not adequately prepare individuals for virtual patient encounters.
• A clear understanding of specific competencies for telehealth is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically locate and map telehealth or virtual care curricula and competencies.
• To identify essential telehealth competencies for health professionals in training and practice.
• To inform the integration of telehealth education into health and nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review methodology was employed, adhering to JBI guidelines and PRISMA-ScR.
• Extensive literature searches were conducted across multiple databases (Medline, Emcare, CINAHL, ERIC, Scopus) and grey literature.
• Data extraction and content analysis were performed by independent team members, with consensus reached on themes and categories.

Main Results:

• 31 publications met inclusion criteria from an initial search of 3,189 peer-reviewed works and grey literature.
• Telehealth is safe, effective, and improves access when delivered by qualified personnel.
• Competencies for telehealth include preparation, client communication, consultation conduct, and closing, which differ from face-to-face care.

Conclusions:

• Competence in face-to-face care does not automatically translate to telehealth competency.
• There is a need to confirm specific telehealth competency requirements for the health workforce.
• Accelerated integration of telehealth content into nursing and health professional curricula and development is crucial.