Lesson 1Red flags that require escalation: severe dyspnea, SpO2 < 90% or significant drop, signs of DKA/HHS, chest pain, altered mental status, hypotension, persistent vomiting or dehydrationOutlines critical warning signs in telehealth needing immediate action, such as intense breathlessness, low or declining oxygen levels, chest discomfort, DKA or HHS indicators, low blood pressure, confusion, and ongoing vomiting or fluid loss.
Severe dyspnea and work of breathing on videoInterpreting low or dropping home SpO2 readingsChest pain, palpitations, and cardiac warning signsIdentifying signs of DKA and HHS remotelyRecognizing hypotension and poor perfusion signsEscalation pathways and emergency instructionsLesson 2Medication reconciliation and adherence assessment: ask-about technique, inhaler use review, recent medication changes or side effectsReviews effective methods for checking medications and compliance in telehealth, using the ask-about approach, examining inhaler and device usage, and discussing recent alterations, adverse reactions, and safety matters.
Preparing patients for a virtual med list reviewStepwise telehealth medication reconciliationUsing the ask-about technique for adherenceReviewing inhaler and device technique remotelyIdentifying side effects and drug interactionsDocumenting and communicating medication changesLesson 3Gathering home measurements: guided instructions to obtain blood glucose, home BP, pulse oximetry, heart rate, and how to troubleshoot devicesProvides step-by-step coaching for patients to accurately measure blood sugar, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pulse at home, covering device preparation, frequent mistakes, fixes, and recording in telehealth encounters.
Preparing the patient and environment for measurementsStepwise coaching for home blood pressure readingsGuided self-monitoring of blood glucose at homeUsing and interpreting home pulse oximetry safelyAssessing heart rate by device and manual methodsTroubleshooting common home device problemsLesson 4Opening and agenda-setting for a 25-minute visit using simple languageOutlines a systematic way to start a 25-minute telehealth session, fostering connection, verifying identity and agreement, establishing a mutual plan with straightforward terms, and handling time to cover patient concerns.
Verifying identity, location, and emergency planUsing plain language to explain visit purposeBuilding rapport and psychological safety quicklyEliciting the patient’s main concerns and goalsNegotiating a realistic shared agenda and time useTransitioning from agenda to focused assessmentLesson 5Video observation skills: recognising respiratory distress signs, altered mental status, skin perfusion, facial cues, environment red flagsEnhances skills in video-based observation to detect breathing difficulties, mental changes, skin circulation issues, facial expressions, body signals, and home hazards, incorporating these into remote evaluation and action plans.
Optimizing camera, lighting, and positioningVisual cues of respiratory distress on videoRecognizing altered mental status remotelyAssessing skin color, perfusion, and sweatingReading facial expression and body languageSpotting environmental and safety red flagsLesson 6Respiratory assessment by history: onset, triggers, sputum, cough, baseline exercise tolerance, COPD exacerbation triggersGuides conducting respiratory history via telehealth, covering symptom start and progression, causes, phlegm and cough details, usual activity levels, COPD or asthma trends, and spotting acute worsening signs.
Clarifying onset, duration, and progression of dyspneaExploring triggers, positions, and relieving factorsCharacterizing cough, sputum, and hemoptysisAssessing baseline and current exercise toleranceIdentifying COPD and asthma exacerbation patternsDetermining need for urgent in-person evaluationLesson 7Symptom-focused questioning for diabetes: hyperglycaemia symptoms, patterns, insulin/oral agent use, recent changes in diet or illnessEmphasises targeted questions for diabetes patients, including high and low sugar symptoms, patterns, drug usage, eating habits, sickness, and handling unwell days in telehealth contexts.
Screening for hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia symptomsExploring home glucose logs and daily patternsReviewing insulin and oral diabetes medication useAssessing diet, activity, and recent illness changesDiscussing sick-day rules and self-managementIdentifying diabetes red flags needing escalationLesson 8Home safety and social determinants: living alone, access to meds/food, transportation, caregiver availabilityExamines assessing home safety and social factors in telehealth, such as solo living, access to drugs and meals, travel options, support from carers, and involving social services when needed.
Assessing living situation and basic home safetyEvaluating access to medications and refillsScreening for food insecurity and nutrition risksIdentifying transportation and technology barriersAssessing caregiver availability and caregiver strainCoordinating referrals to social and community resourcesLesson 9Assessing anxiety remotely: screening questions, duration, safety concerns, functional impactInstructs on remote anxiety evaluation with quick screening, symptom length and background, safety issues, daily effects, and knowing when to refer for urgent mental health support.
Building comfort to discuss emotional symptomsUsing brief anxiety screening questionsExploring duration, triggers, and coping effortsAssessing impact on sleep, work, and self-careScreening for safety, self-harm, and substance useCoordinating follow-up and mental health referrals
