American Heart Association Launches Digital Health Certification to Standardize Cardiac Telemedicine
The American Heart Association has introduced a new professional certification program to standardize digital health training for cardiac care providers as telehealth adoption expands rapidly.
The American Heart Association has launched a new professional certification program addressing the growing challenge health care providers face in safely and effectively using digital tools for remote cardiac care. The Digital Health in Cardiac Care certification aims to bridge the gap between traditional practice and remote patient monitoring while promoting privacy and compatibility with existing health care systems.
This certification represents the fourth individual professional offering in the Certified Professional by the American Heart Association science-based portfolio, which currently includes telehealth, telehealth stroke and tobacco treatment certifications. The new program, offered by the American Heart Association Center for Telehealth®, is designed to standardize training and validate health care providers' expertise in delivering care through technology-enabled clinical settings.
"The American Heart Association is committed to ensuring that quality standards for digital health technology are clear, trusted and embraced by health care providers," said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., FAHA, volunteer member of the American Heart Association Center for Telehealth Expert Panel. "Digital health technology paves the way for better self-management, earlier detection of issues and improved treatment outcomes by delivering continuous data and insights to people living with chronic conditions and to their care teams."
The certification focuses on digital health in cardiac care, which refers to using technology tools such as wearable devices, smartphone apps, telehealth platforms and remote monitoring systems to help people manage and prevent heart conditions beyond traditional clinical settings. The program equips providers with skills to implement best practices in digital health to help engage patients more effectively and build their confidence in managing chronic conditions.
Enrollment is available to health care professionals with clinical or administrative backgrounds, as well as health and wellness specialists using digital health tools to monitor, track and engage with patients. The certification process includes digital health literacy training, evidence-based online education combining research and hands-on experiences, and assessment delivery via live remote-proctoring through American Heart Association platforms.
The Certified Professional by the American Heart Association program brings the same gold standard used by the Association for hospital certifications. Certification credentials are valid for three years and include opportunities for professional promotion through display of personalized certificates. Additional information about the certification program is available at https://www.heart.org.
From now through December 31, customers who purchase the Digital Health in Cardiac Care Certification and Coursework Bundle can complete an additional Telehealth Certification and Coursework Bundle at no additional cost. The certification launch comes as the Association plans to introduce a stroke coordinator certification later this year, expanding its professional education offerings in the digital health space.