HL7 Training
Official HL7-Produced training is now being offered at ATA!
Course Faculty: George W. Beeler, Jr. Ph.D.

In today’s healthcare arena, the HL7 messaging standard is
critical to enabling disparate healthcare applications to exchange keys sets of clinical and administrative data.  Advance your career and enhance your marketability in today’s competitive health care environment by participating in ATA’s HL7 training courses and adding "HL7 Certified" to your credentials.

HL7 Version 3 Tutorial:

• HL7 Version 3 Implementation, Part 1: Analysis and Specification – This tutorial guides the student through the analysis process, and addresses issues necessary for building robust interface solutions. This class also provides a lead-in for Version 3 Implementation Part 2: Implementation Mechanics.
  
  
• HL7 Version 3 Implementation Part 2: Implementation Mechanics - This tutorial gives an overview of current technical strategies for implementing solutions based on the Version 3 specifications. The tutorial will also address techniques and design patterns for manipulating Version 3 messages: parsing and serialization, extended validation, communication, storage and retrieval, localization and extensions and enablement of existing applications.

BUSINESS & FINANCE: Taking the Next Step in Strategic Management for Telehealth: Getting Telehealth Integrated into the Culture of Your Organization
Coordinated by ATA Business & Finance SIG

Take your program to the next level.  Learn about innovative business development strategies, financial forecasting, community assessments, model templates and more.

Course Description: Telehealth/telemedicine initiatives often find themselves struggling after years of being successful.  This course, the fourth in a series, addresses innovative business development strategies.  Presented will be business development strategies including financial forecasts, community assessments, model templates, and discussions on key strategies to secure success in a telehealth/telemedicine initiative.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe key elements of fully integrated, strategic models for business development and growth in telehealth initiatives.
• Identify steps in planning growth and expansion of telehealth initiatives that are essential for success.
• Create a strategic framework from which a telehealth initiative can be planned, expanded, and/or self-sustain.

Course Moderator:  Gail Barker, PhD, Co-Director, Arizona Telemedicine Program, Maricopa County, Phoenix, AZ

Course Faculty:

POLICY: Legal and Regulatory Issues in Telehealth
Coordinated by Center for Telehealth and E-Health Law, National Telehealth Resource Center and American Telemedicine Association

Learn about federal and state fraud and abuse laws, liability, confidentiality, reimbursement, international practice issues, licensure, communicating with lawmakers and more.

Course Description: This full-day course is structured for both new and experienced telehealth providers and administrators.  The course covers key legal, regulatory, and administrative issues including: reimbursement; liability and risk management; credentialing; health IT regulatory developments; and patent and other intellectual property issues.  Participants will receive background material and resource tools for each issue topic with a brief review of fundamentals for those new to the field, as well as a segment covering advanced topics for both new and experienced telehealth professionals. Substantive areas of special focus will include homecare, remote monitoring, and web-based interactions.  The course will also provide a comprehensive update on new legislation and policy developments likely to affect telehealth delivery systems.
The faculty for this program includes legal experts from CTeL and leading experts, including legal scholars knowledgeable about the cutting-edge issues facing telehealth practitioners, networks, and vendors.  The program will provide practical advice in an informal atmosphere. 

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a checklist of key legal issues associated with setting up and running telehealth projects
• Understand federal and state fraud and abuse laws and the law challenges related to giving free services and equipment to remote medical sites or customers
• Understand special problems faced by multi-state practitioners, including physicians, nurses, and others
• Understand liability, confidentiality, and the relevant provisions that should be included in all telehealth agreements
• Understand opportunities and challenges associated with telehealth reimbursement by federal, state, and private payers
• Apply laws to international practice
• Determine when an in-person physical exam is required
• Understand how to communicate the critical information with key state and national stakeholders, policymakers, and decision-makers about the value of telehealth
• Understand collaborating as a means of expanding reimbursement, addressing licensure

Participants are invited to e-mail in questions ahead of time to info@ctel.org or bring them to the meeting. 

Course Moderator: Robert J. Waters, MPA, JD, Counsel, Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL), Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath

Course Faculty:

TELENURSING I: An Introduction to Telehealth Nursing
Coordinated by ATA Telenursing SIG

Cover the fundamentals of successful clinical telehealth programs: telepresenting, videoconferencing, synchronous and asynchronous applications, case management, and more.

Course Description: Telehealth nursing encompasses a wide array of roles.  This course will provide an overview for individuals who wish to enhance their basic knowledge with respect to issues in telehealth nursing, as well as individuals who want to review telehealth fundamentals related to interactive technologies.  This session will provide an overview of strategies for success and overcoming potential barriers.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the basics of telepresenting and videoconferencing,
• Identify discuss issues, challenges, and solutions related to synchronous and asynchronous telehealth interactions
• Appreciate the relationships between case management, telehealth nursing, and information technology
• Recognize common factors of successful clinical telehealth programs

Course Moderator:  Jill Winters, PhD, RN, Director, Office of Nursing Research and Scholarship, Associate Professor, Marquette University, College of Nursing
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TECHNOLOGY I: An Introduction to Telemedicine Technology
Coordinated by ATA Technology SIG

This course provides individuals with little or no experience in the field a basic overview of technology and related business requirements to employ a successful telemedicine initiative.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the business and technological aspects of employing Telemedicine.  The target audience is individuals will little or no experience in the field that have an interest in or intent to employ a Telemedicine offering.  The course will essentially be split into two major areas:  Business and Technological aspects of Telemedicine.  The course will be taught as a team with each member covering their particular area of expertise.  Please Note: Although the course objectives seem to imply an emphasis of business aspects over technological, this is not the case.  The actual course will allot the appropriate amount of time for each subject area.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Video Conferencing
• WebStreaming, WebCasting, and Webinars
• Store and Forward
• Networks
• HIPAA Security

Course Moderator: Richard C. Evans, Senior Software Engineer, Utah Telehealth Network, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Deb LaMarche
Manager
Utah Telehealth Network
University of Utah Health Sciences Center
Salt Lake City, Utah

Jeff Schukra
Network Specialist
Utah Telehealth Network
University of Utah Health Sciences Center
Salt Lake City, Utah

HUMAN FACTORS: Telemedicine with Special Populations: A Human Factors Approach
Coordinated by ATA Human Factors SIG

Discuss how telemedicine can address the unique needs of older adult populations, minorities and returning veterans within the context of the Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Course Description: Special populations have unique needs that telemedicine can address through a human factors approach.  Examples are drawn from Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, older adult populations, minority populations, and returning Veterans.  This discussion will provide an overview of Section 508 requirements and some resources and tools to enable compliance.  There are predictable changes in perception, cognition, and psychomotor performance with age that can impact telemedicine interventions.  We will discuss these changes and review some tools for modeling older adult performance that can aid the process of designing interventions.  Telemedicine tools, when not carefully designed, may increase the demands of healthcare engagement and ultimately healthcare disparities. Minority older adult populations have less exposure and access to communication and information technologies. This segment will discuss the challenges confronting minority older adults when interacting with healthcare technologies.  This discussion will focus on the special assistive technology needs of returning veterans, the training necessary to blend technology to patient needs, the special psychological issues of returning veterans and the ways that human factors can influence telemedicine to address these issues.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Gain practical advice and understand guidelines for working with special populations in telemedicine settings from a human factors approach. 
• Learn basic requirements for meeting Section 508 of the ADA, with an emphasis on visually-impaired populations.
• Learn human factors approaches emphasizing safety and comfort criteria for interacting with and training use of telemedicine equipment when working with older adult populations, minority populations, and returning veterans.

Course Moderator: Neil Charness, Ph.D., William G. Chase Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

TELEREHABILITATION: Current Developments and Future Directions
Coordinated by ATA Telerehabilitation SIG

Gain a comprehensive understanding of telerehabilitation: clinical services, current research, implementation and sustainability, reimbursement issues, cases studies and more.

Course Description: Telerehabilitation involves the delivery of rehabilitation services at a distance using a range of telecommunication technologies. Services applicable to a telerehabilitation model may include therapeutic intervention, remote monitoring of progress, and education and training to families and rehabilitation professionals. Driven in part by the aging population, shortened lengths of stays in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and the rapid growth of home telehealth, the number and types of telerehabilitation clinical services, research programs, and technology development initiatives has grown substantially in the past decade. This course will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of telerehabilitation including the clinical services involved, current research and development in the field, issues associated with the implementation and sustainability of telerehabilitation services, and the future directions predicted for the field.

Additionally, the course will provide participants with an overview of the history of telerehabilitation and scope of practice, knowledge of the range of communication technologies utilized in telerehabilitation, and an understanding of the reimbursement issues inherent in the delivery of services. The course will address current research in the development and validation of telerehabilitation applications in physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology. Examples of successful telerehabilitation services and programs will also be presented. The course will explore the integration of telerehabilitation into home telehealth services, the types of interventions that might be applicable, and the issues and challenges inherent in successful implementation of such services. The future directions of telerehabilitation and the challenges faced by clinicians and information technology engineers will be outlined.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Have an understanding of the essential features of telerehabilitation, its features, and scope of practice.
• Be aware of the range of technologies involved in the delivery of telerehabilitation, their application, advantages and limitations.
• Understand the current status of reimbursement for telerehabilitation services in the US and issues involved in obtaining reimbursement.
• Be informed of current research and development of telerehabilitation applications in physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology.
• Be aware of existing telerehabilitation services that have been successfully implemented
• Be aware of particular telerehabilitation interventions that can be integrated into home telehealth and remote monitoring programs.
• Understand the challenges inherent in the implementation and sustainability of telerehabilitation services.
• Have an understanding of future technological developments and the potential role of telerehabilitation in healthcare.

Course Moderator:  Deborah Theodoros PhD, Associate Professor and Head, Division of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane  QLD, Australia

This new course will focus on issues related to establishing and managing medical call centers. Experts in the field will discuss and explore the relationship of medical call centers in the U.S. and Canada to telemedicine and telehealth programs and address the right tools for managing a successful operation and assuring quality of care.  Attendees will learn about important legal and regulatory, clinical and technology issues, and other key operational considerations that medical call centers face on a day-to-day basis.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss various tools for success in call center management
• Understand and address quality assurance and privacy/HIPAA issues related to call centers
• Gain familiarity of technology for call centers
• Understand reimbursement and business models related to call centers

Course Moderator:Peter DeHaan, PhD, AnswerStat Magazine / Connections Magazine
Mattawan, MI

"From Telephones To Telemedicine And Beyond……"
Peter Dehnel, MD
Medical Director
Children’s Physician Network (CPN)
Medical Director
Children’s Physician Network Triage Service
Minneapolis MN

"Decision Support Software for Healthcare Contact Centers"
Marlene Grasser, RN
Regional Sales Director
LVM Systems, Inc.
Mesa, AZ

"The Evolution of Telehealth Services: An International Perspective"
Lois Scott, RN, BScN, MN
Vice President
McKesson Canada
Moncton, NB, Canada

"Legal, Regulatory & Licensure Compliance For A Successful Medical Call Center "
Carol M. Stock, JD, MN, RN
Principal
Carol M. Stock & Associates
Seattle, WA

TELENURSING II: Advanced Concepts in Telehealth Nursing
Coordinated by ATA Telenursing SIG

Discuss HIPAA, ethics, legal issues, telehealth marketing, reimbursement, performance measures and cost analysis of telehealth programs.

Course Description: Telehealth nursing encompasses a wide array of roles.  This course will provide an insight into the complex, relevant issues that support the success and sustainability of telehealth nursing roles and programs.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Be aware of pertinent matters related to HIPAA, ethics, and legal issues in telehealth nursing practice arenas
• Gain an understanding of approaches for marketing telehealth programs and issues related to reimbursement for services rendered
• Identify important considerations for developing and implementing performance measures in telehealth practice settings
• Gain familiarity with the multiple outcomes to consider when undertaking a cost analysis of telehealth programs

Course Moderator: Cindy K. Leenknecht, MS, APRN, BC, CCRP, Clinical Nurse Specialist/Clinical Research Coordinator, Partners in Health Telemedicine Network, St. Vincent Healthcare, Billings, Montana

TECHNOLOGY II: Connected Health: From Research to Reality
Coordinated by ATA Technology SIG

Advanced discussion addressing the latest technologies for both store and forward and live interactive telemedicine, including lessons learned from real world case studies. Explore current activities in standards development to create more easily integrated and supported solutions.

Course Description: As telemedicine and connected health processes gain wider acceptance and technology options proliferate there are incredible challenges in crafting the technology solutions to make sure they scale and are supportable in production environments.  What are the "appropriate" technologies - and how can programs determine the best options to fit their needs and capacities? Technology selection is a critical factor that impacts clinical care, is constrained by budget, and dramatically impacts training, support, sustainability and growth potential.  This course will examine a wide variety of technologies for both store/forward and live/interactive telemedicine and/or connected health programs. Real world examples of technology solutions, the lessons learned from their implementations and best practices will be shared.  Also, current efforts at standards development will be reviewed and evaluated for impact on current solution development and future technology implementations.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Review the latest technologies involved in connected health implementations.
• Identify the advantages, tradeoffs and limitations posed by current technologies.
• Review the current activities in standards development to create more easily integrated and supported solutions.
• Review real world program examples to share lessons learned and best practices

Course Moderator: Douglas McClure, MIM, Corporate Manager, Center for Connected Health, Partners HealthCare, Boston, MA

Rick Cnossen
Standards Technology Manager
Intel Corporation- Digital Health Group
Hillsboro, Oregon


Douglas McClure, MIM
Corporate Manager
Center for Connected Health
Partners HealthCare
Boston, MA

HOME TELEHEALTH & REMOTE MONITORING: Care Management Across the Continuum
Coordinated by ATA Home Telehealth & Remote Monitoring SIG

Learn about remote monitoring best practices, use of staff resources, collaborative care management, appropriate use cases and future applications.

Course Description: Remote monitoring is only a tool, a significant tool that enables health care delivery in ever increasingly diverse populations, from the tiniest among us to those living longer lives; outside the acute care setting.

Home health has become the primary source of diffusion of remote telemonitoring, yet vast opportunities exist for collaborating across the continuum.  The remote monitoring path from adoption to integration to saturation is in place and has created successful working models, best practices, use cases, and a growing body of research. Panel members offer not just a view of what is working now, but also where the future lies in health care management with remote telemonitoring at the center.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Have information and resources related to central monitoring best practices, policies and procedures, and use of staff resources.
• Be able to identify the integral relationship of remote telemonitoring to collaborative care management.
• Be introduced to recent advances in social media as a teaching tool and projections for use in remote telemonitoring, as a component of care management.

Course Moderator:  Sylvia Talkington RN, BA, Clinical Consultant – Honeywell HomMed, Brookfield, WI

TELEMENTAL HEALTH: An Introduction to Telemental Health
Coordinated by ATA Telemental Health SIG

Discuss requirements for providing mental health using videoconferencing including technical and equipment needs as well as the basics of clinical practice.

Course Description: This course will present the essential technical, clinical, and administrative aspects of telemental health practice.  The focus will be on providing mental health care using videoteleconference.  The first part of the course will review the technical and equipment requirements for conducting one-time assessments or ongoing counseling using teleconference.  The discussion will be presented as “Technical Issues for Liberal Arts Majors” so people with no technical background can understand the presentation.  It will include discussion of band width issues; the choice between CRT, LCD, and Plasma Displays; working with IT; and the pros and cons of ISDN versus IP.  The second part of the course will present the basics of clinical practice.  This will include how to structure ongoing telemental health consultations with both the remote organizations and with patients, how to engage patients and develop a therapeutic alliance and how to manage potentially violent patients.  Specific case examples will be presented on school-based health clinics, geriatric telepsychiatry, and telepsychiatry with Native Americans.  The course will finish with a review of the administrative aspects of telemental health.  First, recent advances in billing and reimbursement will be presented.  Then common ethical and legal concerns will be presented as well as the ways they are handled in current practice.  A discussion of ethical issues of telemedicine practice with children will also be presented.

This course entails both didactic and interactive learning.  Open discussion between the instructors and the participants will be encouraged.  Video clips reflecting key concepts and practice will be used often to provide “real world” examples of the concepts and guidelines being discussed.  Although the material presented is aimed at clinicians seeking to start or develop a telemental health practice, the faculty has years of expertise and expects that even seasoned clinicians may benefit from the course.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• To learn the basic technical requirements to conduct clinically sound and valid telemental health videoconferencing.
• To learn some of the key clinical issues that arise when conducting telemental health and how to address these issues.
• To learn the current progress in billing and administration of telemental health as well as developing standards in the ethical conduct of telemental health.

Course Moderators:  Jay Shore, MD, Eugene Augusterfer, LSW and Carolyn Turvey, PhD