NEWS

UD offers new telehealth certificate

Jen Rini

The News Journal

Dr. Ray Dorsey, a neurologist with the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York consults with a patient at the University of Delaware’s Parkinson’s Clinic. While telemedicine services have been available throughout Delaware, growth in the industry is limited by lack of regulation and spotty private insurance coverage and reimbursement. A new bill in Delaware would change that.

As access to telehealth expands in Delaware and across the country, the University of Delaware will be offering a new program for professionals looking to be certified in the practice.

The continuing learning program, which will debut this fall, is open to physicians, counselors, therapists, pharmacists and social workers, among other clinicians.

Telehealth incorporates a digital technology similar to Skype that allows patients or doctors to consult with other physicians when travel and lack of access become too much of a burden.

Delaware has already been making progress expanding the technology.

Private insurers in the state are required to cover telemedicine services thanks to legislation passed in 2015

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But before a bill was even introduced, the University of Delaware had a Parkinson's disease clinic that connects residents to specialists out-of-state, while Christiana Care Health System and Nemours both offer options for patients.

A new smartphone application, created by a Delaware doctor, that will be out this summer will help people triage a health situation like a stomach or toothache when they are unsure of what the next steps would be. Patients will be connected to a professional via video to help guide them on what their care should be and where they should go to seek a medical opinion.

Delaware officials would like to explore how telemedicine can be adapted in a wide array of disciplines from emergency care to psychiatric services and rural and dental health care.

There's hope that UD's new program will help equip professionals with the resources to address critical health care access needs and prevent hospital readmissions.

Classes will take place on Monday evenings from Sept. 12 to Dec. 19 at Arsht Hall on UD’s Wilmington Campus, 2700 Pennsylvania Ave.

Current Blue Hens and alumni are eligible for a discount when enrolling in the program. Additional financial assistance may be available.

For more information or to register for this program, visit www.pcs.udel.edu/pcs-program/telehealth/, email continuing-ed@udel.edu or call (302) 831-7600.

Jen Rini can be reached at (302) 324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.