OpenCourser brand icon
Sign in
We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Course image
edX logo

Telehealth Optimization

Practice Considerations, Workflow Planning, and Healthcare Accessibility

Natalie M. Pageler, MD, MEd and Christopher Sharp, MD

A truly impactful telehealth program places the patient at the center of the experience and makes healthcare more accessible for all. This course from the Stanford Center for Health Education (SCHE) unpacks practical considerations for implementing and optimizing telehealth in your context. You will explore key touch points along the patient care journey (before, during, and after a telehealth interaction); how various patient personas experience the journey; and how this translates to your practice and workflow planning. The course also explores how telehealth can both create and remove barriers to healthcare accessibility, and how these issues can be overcome. Learn how to address the impact of the digital divide in a telehealth program, and propose ways to advocate for, and enhance, its accessibility.

Read more

A truly impactful telehealth program places the patient at the center of the experience and makes healthcare more accessible for all. This course from the Stanford Center for Health Education (SCHE) unpacks practical considerations for implementing and optimizing telehealth in your context. You will explore key touch points along the patient care journey (before, during, and after a telehealth interaction); how various patient personas experience the journey; and how this translates to your practice and workflow planning. The course also explores how telehealth can both create and remove barriers to healthcare accessibility, and how these issues can be overcome. Learn how to address the impact of the digital divide in a telehealth program, and propose ways to advocate for, and enhance, its accessibility.

What you'll learn

  • How to map the telehealth patient journey for a better experience.

  • How to optimize the patient experience throughout a telehealth interaction.

  • How to use telehealth to overcome the barriers to healthcare access.

  • How to improve telehealth accessibility and equitability for vulnerable populations.

Enroll now

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for those wanting to expand telehealth accessibility in their practices
Taught by physicians specializing in telehealth and medical education
Helps learners overcome barriers to healthcare access through telehealth
Develops familiarity with the patient journey during telehealth interactions
Learners will examine how telehealth can enhance healthcare accessibility

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Practical telehealth strategies for healthcare professionals

Based on the course's description and stated learning objectives, learners can anticipate a focus on practical implementation and optimization of telehealth. This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the patient journey in telehealth interactions, from planning to experience, and how to translate this into effective workflow strategies. A significant strength appears to be its dedication to enhancing healthcare accessibility and equitability, particularly by addressing the digital divide and supporting vulnerable populations. The content is highly relevant for professionals seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of digital healthcare.
Delivered by a reputable institution, implying high standards.
"I expect high-quality content and instruction from a Stanford course."
"The publisher's reputation gives me confidence in the course's rigor and relevance."
"Learning from Stanford ensures the information is current and authoritative."
Explores the entire patient journey, pre- to post-interaction.
"I'm looking forward to understanding all key touch points of the telehealth patient journey."
"I expect to learn how to optimize the patient experience throughout the entire telehealth interaction."
"The detailed mapping of patient personas should provide a well-rounded view of care delivery."
Focuses on actionable strategies for telehealth implementation.
"I anticipate gaining actionable insights to integrate telehealth effectively into my practice."
"I expect to learn how to optimize patient care pathways through well-planned telehealth workflows."
"I hope this course provides concrete steps for designing a better patient experience in a virtual setting."
Addresses critical issues of accessibility, digital divide, and equity.
"I hope to understand how telehealth can overcome existing barriers to healthcare access."
"Addressing the impact of the digital divide on telehealth programs is crucial for my work."
"I'm keen to learn how to advocate for and enhance accessibility for vulnerable populations."
May offer breadth over deep, specific technical detail.
"I wonder if the course will provide enough depth for highly specific technical implementation challenges."
"I anticipate this will be a broad overview rather than an exhaustive dive into every telehealth technology."
"I hope it delves sufficiently into policy nuances, or it might feel a bit high-level."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Telehealth Optimization: Practice Considerations, Workflow Planning, and Healthcare Accessibility with these activities:
Review clinical interview
Refreshes patient interview techniques and knowledge needed to effectively gather medical history and build rapport.
Show steps
  • Review STAR method for eliciting a detailed history
  • Practice open-ended and closed-ended questions
  • Review body language and active listening techniques
Read about health disparities
Provides a comprehensive overview of health disparities and the factors that contribute to them, enhancing understanding of this crucial topic.
Show steps
  • Read Chapter 1: Framework for Understanding Health Disparities
  • Summarize the key points of Chapter 2: Historical Roots of Health Disparities
  • Review the case studies in Chapter 3: Case Studies of Health Disparities
Develop a telemedicine implementation plan
Challenges students to apply their knowledge by creating a practical plan for implementing telemedicine services.
Show steps
  • Identify target population and clinical needs
  • Determine technology requirements and infrastructure
  • Develop a workflow for integrating telemedicine into existing practice
Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Telehealth Optimization: Practice Considerations, Workflow Planning, and Healthcare Accessibility will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Telemedicine Manager
Telemedicine Managers oversee the operations of telemedicine programs. They work to ensure that patients have access to quality care through remote technologies. Enrolling in this course would provide you with the tools and knowledge to be an effective Telemedicine Manager, and improve healthcare accessibility. The Telemedicine Manager role usually requires a bachelor's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Telemedicine Manager
Telehealth Nurse
Telehealth Nurses provide nursing care to patients remotely. They use technology to connect with patients and provide care, such as consultations, triage, and monitoring. This course provides you with the knowledge and guidance to excel as a Telehealth Nurse, and to enhance the quality of care that you provide. Most Telehealth Nurses must have a bachelor's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Telehealth Nurse
Health Policy Analyst
This role analyzes and develops public policy related to healthcare. They examine the impact of policies on healthcare systems, providers, and patients. Given the increase in Telehealth services, your work as a Health Policy Analyst would be greatly impacted by the information provided by this course. It would equip you to understand and optimize policies associated with it. Employment as a Health Policy Analyst usually requires a master's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Health Policy Analyst
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators participate in various roles to improve patient care. They are involved in planning, organizing, and managing healthcare systems and services. As a Healthcare Administrator, you can learn the ins and outs of creating an efficient Telehealth program from this course, and enhance healthcare accessibility overall. A Healthcare Administrator typically needs a master's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare Data Analyst
Healthcare Data Analysts use data to improve healthcare delivery. They collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for improvement. The processes that you would improve with data analytics are optimized in this course. Therefore, taking this course would be highly beneficial for you as a Healthcare Data Analyst. An advanced degree is typically required for this career.
See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Data Analyst
Public Health Educator
Public Health Educators develop and implement educational programs to promote health and prevent disease. They may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, community centers, and government agencies. This course can provide you with valuable knowledge about creating and improving Telehealth programs. It will make you a more well-rounded Public Health Educator. The Public Health Educator role typically requires a master's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Educator
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. They are able to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and order tests. By taking this course, you will learn how to optimize healthcare delivery and improve access to care for your patients. This course will give you a leg up in the role of a Physician Assistant. Most Physician Assistant roles require a master's degree to qualify.
See salaries and explore the career path for Physician Assistant
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioners provide primary and specialty care to patients. They are able to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and order tests. The information learned in this course can help you succeed in the Nurse Practitioner role by optimizing access to care for your patients. Nurse Practitioners are required to have a master's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare Consultant
Healthcare Consultants provide advice and guidance to healthcare organizations on how to improve their operations. They may work on projects related to strategic planning, operational efficiency, and financial management. Taking this course can help you provide better guidance on how organizations can improve their Telehealth programs. The Healthcare Consultant position generally requires a bachelor's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Consultant
Healthcare Finance Manager
Healthcare Finance Managers administer the financial operations of healthcare organizations. They plan, organize, and direct financial activities to ensure the financial health of the organization. This course provides the foundation for optimizing healthcare accessibility for your organization by improving the Telehealth program. This would have a significant financial impact and value for the Healthcare Finance Manager role. Employers usually require a bachelor's degree for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Finance Manager
Business Analyst
Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They may work on projects related to process improvement, systems analysis, and data analysis. This course may be helpful to you as a Business Analyst, as you can apply what you learn about optimizing Telehealth operations to improving business processes. A bachelor's degree is generally required for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They may work on projects related to product development, construction, and event planning. This course may be helpful to you as a Project Manager, as you can apply what you learn about workflow planning to managing your projects. A bachelor's degree is generally required for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designers design and evaluate the user experience for websites, apps, and other digital products. They may work on projects related to information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing. This course may be helpful to you as a User Experience Designer, as you can apply what you learn about optimizing the Telehealth patient journey to improving the user experience for your products. A bachelor's degree is generally required for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer
Health Informatics Specialist
Health Informatics Specialists use technology to improve the delivery of healthcare. They may work on projects related to electronic health records, data analytics, and telehealth. This course may be helpful to you as a Health Informatics Specialist, as you learn about Telehealth optimization and healthcare accessibility. A bachelor's degree is generally required for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Health Informatics Specialist
Web Accessibility Specialist
Web Accessibility Specialists ensure that websites and online content are accessible to people with disabilities. They may work on projects related to web design, development, and testing. This course may help you as a Web Accessibility Specialist, as you can apply what you learn about improving healthcare accessibility to improving web accessibility. A bachelor's degree is generally required for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Accessibility Specialist

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Telehealth Optimization: Practice Considerations, Workflow Planning, and Healthcare Accessibility.
Cover image
Caring for People with Mental Health and Substance...
Save
The book explores the challenges and opportunities of Telehealth in the United States, and is useful for understanding the broader context of Telehealth.
Caring for People with Mental Health and Substance...
Paperback
Check
Caring for People with Mental Health and Substance...
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in...
Save
Provides a guide to telehealth for rural communities. It includes information on the benefits and challenges of telehealth for rural communities, how to implement telehealth programs in rural communities, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth programs in rural communities.
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in...
Paperback
$$$
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Patient Will See You Now
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the digital health revolution, covering topics such as the history of digital health, the different types of digital health technologies and services, the benefits and challenges of digital health, and the future of digital health.
The Patient Will See You Now: The Future of...
Hardcover
$$
The Patient Will See You Now: The Future of...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the...
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the digital health revolution, covering topics such as the history of digital health, the different types of digital health technologies and services, the benefits and challenges of digital health, and the future of digital health.
The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the...
Paperback
$$
The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
Best Practices: Position and Guidance Documents of...
Save
Provides a guide to telehealth in long-term care. It includes information on the benefits and challenges of telehealth for long-term care, how to implement telehealth programs in long-term care, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth programs in long-term care.
Best Practices for Hospital & Health-System...
Paperback
$$$$
Cover image
CDT 2023 Coding Companion
Save
Provides a guide to telehealth in dentistry. It includes information on the benefits and challenges of telehealth for dentistry, how to implement telehealth programs in dentistry, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth programs in dentistry.
CDT 2023 Coding Companion
Paperback
Check
CDT 2023 Coding Companion
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Psychiatric-mental Health Nursing
Save
Provides a guide to telehealth in nursing. It includes information on the benefits and challenges of telehealth for nursing, how to implement telehealth programs in nursing, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth programs in nursing.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and...
Paperback
$$
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and...
Paperback
$$$
Advanced Practice Nursing in Psychiatric and Mental...
Hardcover
$$$$

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Reddit
X
Link
Email

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Telehealth Optimization: Practice Considerations, Workflow Planning, and Healthcare Accessibility.
Introduction to Digital health
Most relevant
Intro to Improving the Patient Experience Through...
Most relevant
Telehealth Best Practices and Uses
Most relevant
COVID-19 Training for Healthcare Workers
Most relevant
Telehealth: Musculoskeletal Assessment
Most relevant
Engaging in Improving Patient Experience Through Analytics
Most relevant
Setting the Stage for Success: An Eye on Safety Culture...
Most relevant
An Introduction to Radiation Oncology: From Diagnosis to...
Most relevant
Cancer in the 21st Century: the Genomic Revolution
Most relevant

edX Buyer Protection & Guarantee

Verified partner policies & purchase protections

World-Class University Partner
Free Trial & Audit

Free Audit Track Available

Free audit track available for most courses, giving open access to video lectures, course readings, and assignments at no charge.

Return & Refund Policy

14-Day Full Refund Window

14-day full refund available up to 14 days after course start or 14 days after payment (whichever comes second, up to 6 months max), provided verified certificate has not yet been earned.

Buyer Protections

Verified Academic & Industry Partner

University-backed credentials authored by elite institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Oxford, with tamper-proof certificate verification.

Key Purchase Protections
Free audit track for open learning access
14-day money-back guarantee on verified certificates
Prestigious university credentials (Harvard, MIT)
Automatic unenrollment refund process via dashboard
OpenCourser Verified Partner Policy details last reviewed: 2026-10-22
Course image
Effort
2 to 4 hours per week for 4 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
Stanford University
Instructors
Natalie M. Pageler, MD, MEd
Christopher Sharp, MD
Language
English
Transcript
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for those wanting to expand telehealth accessibility in their practices
Taught by physicians specializing in telehealth and medical education
Helps learners overcome barriers to healthcare access through telehealth
Develops familiarity with the patient journey during telehealth interactions
Learners will examine how telehealth can enhance healthcare accessibility
Share this
Share to help others discover this course.
Facebook LinkedIn X Reddit Link Email
Begin learning today
Enroll now to gain full access to Telehealth Optimization.
Enroll now
Save for later
Add this course to your list. Find it anytime.
Save
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser