Fireside Chat: VA Video Telehealth and Training Programs During the COVID-19 Response

<p><strong>Rhonda Johnston, Ph.D., BC-FNP, BC-ANP</strong>, Director, VA Office of Connected Care Quality and Training Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Connected Care, Quality and Training Division</p><p><strong>Rita F. Kobb, MSN, APRN-BC</strong>, Telehealth Training Team Lead, VA Office of Connected Care Quality and Training Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Connected Care, Quality and Training Division</p><p><strong>Claire Marty, MN, RN</strong>, National Quality Lead, VA Office of Connected Care Quality and Training Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Connected Care, Quality and Training Division</p><p><strong>Padraic McVeigh, RN, MSN</strong>, Quality Manager, VA Office of Connected Care Quality and Training Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Connected Care, Quality and Training Division</p><p>In fiscal 2019, over 909,000 VA patients received a portion of their VA care through telehealth, and over 60% of VA’s primary and mental health care providers participated in one or more Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) appointments to a patient’s home.</p><p>The VA Office of Connected Care Quality and Training (QT) Division’s pandemic 2020 response resulted in over 80,000 new course completions in the first month and over 20% more primary care and mental health providers conducting CVT visits in the first five months. During this period, the number of CVT appointments increased by over 1,000%.</p><p>Learn how the VA’s telehealth training infrastructure enabled the VA to enter the COVID-19 public health emergency fully prepared for the rapid growth in telehealth care. As CVT became increasingly important during the COVID-19 response, the QT Division made necessary curriculum adjustments, meeting provider and patient needs.</p><p>DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.30953/tmt.v6.241" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://doi.org/10.30953/tmt.v6.241</a></p>