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Top Telehealth News
Harenessing Telehealth to Enhance Patient Care (Source: Mayo Clinic) A recent Mayo Clinic study revealed how telehealth can be a powerful tool to enhance patient well-being when strategically applied in healthcare delivery. The study showed that patients who received remote monitoring support after discharge did significantly better and needed less follow-up care compared to patients without remote monitoring. ATA Nexus: Telehealth Companies Unite to Change Nutrition Policy, Bolstered by MAHA Momentum (Source: Fierce Healthcare) The American Telemedicine Association is advocating for expanded coverage of medical nutrition therapies for patients with chronic conditions. The organization’s lobbying group sees potential to get policymaking done at the federal and state levels because of President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign, which had zeroed in on the chronic disease epidemic. Get Rid of Telehealth Barriers for Medicare Patients—For Good (Source: AMA) The AMA is expressing “strong support” (PDF) for a bipartisan bill that, if passed, would ensure Medicare patients would no longer have to worry about losing their ability to access telehealth services and other important flexibilities that they gained during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies Health Act 2025— known as the CONNECT for Health Act—was introduced by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). More Californians Now Get Therapy Via a Video Screen or Phone than through In-Person Sessions (Source: Los Angeles Times) More Californians are talking to their therapists through a video screen or by phone than in person, marking a profound shift in how mental healthcare is delivered as record-setting numbers seek help. While patients and providers say teletherapy is effective and easier to get than in-person services, experts in the field noted that teletherapy often requires a skilled mental health practitioner trained to pick up subtle communication cues.
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Recent TRC Resources
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| Patient Portal Resources (Created by NCTRC) |
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The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) created several new resources below relating to patient portal navigation.
- Commonly Used Patient Portals Guide - offers a comparative overview of widely used patient portals, detailing their associated Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, language availability, and core functionalities.​
- Quick Guide: Patient Portals Functions - provides an overview of commonly used patient portals and the key functions they offer.
- Point And Learn: Patient Portal Icons Guide - introduces commonly used icons found in patient portals, helping users easily identify key features such as appointments, medications, messaging, test results, payments, video visits, forms, insurance, and health history.
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| Navigating the Telehealth Neighborhood – Patient Portal Training for Digital Navigators (Created by NRTRC) |
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The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC) is pleased to announce the release of our latest training course: Navigating the Telehealth Neighborhood – Patient Portal Training for Digital Navigators.
Building on the success of our initial course, A Guide to Telehealth Basics and Virtual Appointments for Digital Navigators, this new offering is designed to equip digital navigators with the knowledge and tools they needed to support patients in effectively using patient portals. Patient portals are secure online platforms provided by healthcare organizations, such as hospitals and physician groups, that enable patients to access and manage their health information and communicate directly with their healthcare providers. Typically accessed via a web browser or mobile app, these tools are essential for fostering patient engagement and self-management while protecting patient data.
This course covers key topics including account setup, essential features of patient portals, common troubleshooting strategies, and best practices for empowering users to manage their healthcare confidently and independently. It is ideal for digital navigators, care coordinators, and any frontline professionals supporting patients in accessing digital health services. The course is self-paced, publicly available, and completely free of charge. To get started, please refer to these instructions or contact us directly for support. |
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| Top 10 Reasons Your Internet Falls Short — and How to Fix It (Created by TTAC) |
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Did you miss the Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center's (TTAC) recent webinar, “Top 10 Reasons Your Internet Falls Short — and How to Fix It”? No worries — we’ve recapped the key points for you in our latest blog post! From dropped connections to slow speeds, we dive into the most common internet issues and how to address them — especially for those relying on telehealth and remote services. For more information, read the blog or watch the full recorded webinar.
What you’ll learn:
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The top 10 causes of poor internet performance
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Quick fixes and long-term solutions
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Why reliable internet is essential for telehealth access
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Helpful tools and resources to improve your broadband
Stay informed, stay connected — and take control of your internet performance.
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| Innovation Watch (Created by TTAC) |
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From time to time, the Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center (TTAC) will choose a piece of technology to show or demonstrate in the “Innovation Watch” section of our website. For each product, TTAC takes a closer look at what it can accomplish and the impact it has on telehealth. No endorsement of any products or services is expressed or implied by any information, hyperlink text, product, service, material, or content referred to or included on, or linked from, or to the TTAC website. TTAC is excited to unveil our latest innovation watch: the Insta360 Link 2 – a game-changing 4K AI-powered webcam built for creators, streamers, educators, and professionals. With advanced AI tracking, lightning-fast autofocus, crystal-clear audio, and ultra-high-definition video, the Insta360 Link 2 delivers an elevated experience for every video call, livestream, or recording session.
Key Features:
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| Telehealth Talk- Cultivando Confianza [Building Trust] (Created by SCTRC) |
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The South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC) released a new episode of the Telehealth Talk podcast. En este episodio, nuestras anfitrionas conversan sobre la importancia de establecer relaciones de confianza con las pacientes en entornos virtuales de telesalud. Nos acompañan Sofía Ortiz-Beyley, Coordinadora Principal de Proyectos en Impactivo, y Lilliam Rodríguez Capó, Principal Oficial y Fundadora de VOCES: Coalición de Inmunización y Promoción de la Salud. [In this episode, our hosts discuss the importance of building trust with patients in virtual telehealth settings. We’re joined by Sofía Ortiz-Beyley, Senior Project Coordinator at Impactivo, and Lilliam Rodríguez Capó, Principal Officer and Founder of VOCES: Immunization and Health Promotion Coalition.]
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NCTRC Webinar Series
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| Our webinar series provides informative and educational material on all things telehealth related. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. |
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The NCTRC hosts an educational webinar every 3rd Thursday of the month from 11 AM - 12 PM PT.UPCOMING WEBINAR INFORMATIONWebinar Topic: The Future of Telemedicine and Digital Health to Catalyze Care DeliveryHosting TRC: Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC)When: June 12, 2025 @ 11 AM - 12 PM PT**Please note this webinar has been rescheduled from its usual 3rd Thursday schedule.
The webinar will provide an overview of the major factors affecting the future of telemedicine and digital health pertinent to health care delivery. Specific use cases of AI-driven solutions enhancing telemedicine and digital health will be discussed.
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Telehealth Blog Post
The Telehealth Resource Centers are excited to share blog posts providing a detailed account of a specific use of telehealth in the real world.
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| From the South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC)
Connection Through Care: Telehealth’s Expanding Role in Tennessee’s Community Health Centers
In a state where the northern mockingbird, Tennessee’s official state bird, fills the air with borrowed melodies, its many songs serve as a powerful form of communication. That same spirit lives in Tennessee’s community health centers, which continue to adapt and respond to the changing needs of their communities. Like the mockingbird, these centers listen closely, adjust their approach, and find new ways to connect. With telehealth transforming how and where care is delivered, they are extending their reach, strengthening patient trust, and creating new pathways to health across the state.
Becky Grando, Senior Director of the Center for Quality in Community Health (CQCH) at the Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA), has witnessed this transformation firsthand. TPCA is a nonprofit membership association that supports Tennessee’s community health centers (CHCs) through education, customized support, and advocacy to help them deliver high-quality, accessible healthcare. One of TPCA’s key programs is the CQCH, which advances clinical, operational, and financial quality across the state through health information technology, data strategies, and collaborative learning. Backed by a federal Health Center Controlled Network grant, the CQCH has helped providers use telehealth to remove barriers and reimagine how care can be delivered.
Early Telehealth: Tools in Place but Limited Reach
Before the pandemic, telehealth followed a rigid structure. CHCs were required to use specific technology within their walls, and patients often had to come into the clinic to connect with a remote provider. Through grant funding, TPCA equipped health centers with mobile carts, privacy screens, and secure platforms. This model helped connect rural communities with hard-to-reach specialists.
Responding to Crisis: Flexibility Became a Lifeline
As the pandemic unfolded, emergency waivers allowed providers to use familiar tools like Zoom and FaceTime to continue care. HIPAA-compliant versions of these platforms quickly became available. Ms. Grando shared the story of a nurse who was diagnosed with high blood pressure at the start of the pandemic. With a home monitoring device already on hand, she was able to check her readings and review them with her provider over Zoom. The experience was simple, accessible, and offered much-needed reassurance during a time of widespread uncertainty. As a healthcare professional herself, she understood the strain on the system and the importance of keeping patients and providers safe. Telehealth allowed her to stay connected to her care team while also helping reduce the burden on in-person clinics. Her story reflects how telehealth supported not only patients, but also the providers and professionals working tirelessly to keep care moving forward...
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