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 necessitating immediate action, such as intense breathing difficulty, low oxygen levels, chest discomfort, indicators of diabetic crises, low blood pressure, confusion, and ongoing sickness 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 optimal methods for verifying medications and checking compliance in telehealth, incorporating inquiry techniques, evaluation of inhaler application, and discussion of new adjustments, 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 levels, and pulse at home, covering equipment preparation, frequent mistakes, problem-solving, and recording outcomes 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 4Opening and agenda-setting for a 25-minute visit using simple languageOutlines a systematic method to commence a 25-minute telehealth session, fostering connection, verifying identity and agreement, establishing a mutual plan with straightforward terms, and allocating 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: recognizing respiratory distress signs, altered mental status, skin perfusion, facial cues, environment red flagsEnhances abilities in video-based observation to detect breathing struggles, mental changes, skin colour shifts, expressive signals, and surrounding hazards, incorporating these into distant sorting and urgent response choices.
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 triggersDescribes performing a breathing history via telehealth, covering symptom beginnings, provoking factors, phlegm and cough details, usual activity levels, patterns of COPD or asthma, and spotting 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 7Symptom-focused questioning for diabetes: hyperglycemia symptoms, patterns, insulin/oral agent use, recent changes in diet or illnessEmphasises organised, symptom-oriented queries for diabetic patients, addressing high and low sugar signs, monitoring trends, treatment applications, eating habits, sickness, and management during unwell periods in 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 8Home safety and social determinants: living alone, access to meds/food, transportation, caregiver availabilityExamines evaluating home security and social factors in telehealth, including solo living, availability of treatments and nourishment, travel options, support from carers, and involving social services or local aids 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 using quick screening queries, symptom length and background, safety issues, daily life effects, and recognising when to seek urgent mental health or crisis 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
