Lesson 1Critical warning signs needing immediate escalation: severe shortness of breath, oxygen levels below 90% or sharp decline, DKA or HHS symptoms, chest discomfort, confusion, low blood pressure, ongoing vomiting or fluid lossOutlines key clinical alerts in telehealth requiring urgent action, such as intense breathing difficulties, dropping oxygen saturation, chest pain, diabetic emergencies like DKA or HHS, low blood pressure, mental changes, and persistent vomiting or dehydration risks.
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 2Reviewing medications and checking adherence: the ask-about method, evaluating inhaler usage, noting recent changes or side effectsProvides approaches for medication reconciliation and adherence checks in telehealth, featuring the ask-about strategy, inhaler and device evaluations, and discussions on recent modifications, adverse reactions, and safety concerns.
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 3Collecting home-based measurements: step-by-step guidance for blood sugar, home blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and device troubleshootingExplains coaching patients to accurately measure blood glucose, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rate at home, covering setup, common mistakes, fixes, and recording during telehealth interactions.
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 4Starting the session and setting the agenda for a 25-minute visit with straightforward languageDescribes a systematic way to begin a 25-minute telehealth consultation, fostering rapport, verifying identity and consent, establishing a mutual agenda using simple 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 5Skills for video-based observation: spotting breathing distress, mental state changes, skin colour, facial expressions, environmental hazardsEnhances abilities to observe via video for signs of respiratory issues, mental alterations, skin circulation, non-verbal cues, and home risks, incorporating these into remote triage and decision-making processes.
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 6Assessing breathing through patient history: symptom start, triggers, phlegm, coughing, usual activity levels, COPD flare-up causesGuides conducting respiratory histories remotely, covering symptom beginnings, triggers, sputum and cough details, normal exercise capacity, COPD or asthma trends, and acute worsening indicators.
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 7Targeted questions on symptoms for diabetes: high sugar signs, patterns, insulin or tablet use, diet or illness changesEmphasises structured questioning for diabetic patients on high and low sugar symptoms, monitoring patterns, treatments, diet, sickness, and home management during telehealth.
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 8Evaluating home safety and social factors: living alone, access to medicines and food, transport options, caregiver supportExamines assessing home environments and social influences in telehealth, including living arrangements, resource access, mobility, support networks, and referrals to 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 9Remote assessment of anxiety: screening queries, duration, safety issues, daily life effectsInstructs on evaluating anxiety via telehealth with quick questions, symptom timelines, risk checks, impact assessment, and criteria 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
