AMERICAN TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES NEW PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE: TELEHEALTH AS AN IMPERATIVE MODALITY OF CARE
Developed by the ATA Clinician Council
WASHINGTON, DC, MAY 13, 2024 – During the ATA Nexus 2024 Annual Conference, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) announced new Principles of Practice: Telehealth as an Imperative Modality of Care, to establish and maintain underlying principles of trust, transparency and outcomes-based care. The principles of practice were developed by the ATA Clinician Council, to address barriers to the broad adoption of telehealth and virtual care delivery, including emerging platforms that support technology-enabled healthcare. This includes creating a Trust Agenda that focuses on responsibility, credibility, and integrity within the healthcare industry.
“The ATA believes we have an important opportunity – and an obligation – to better inform the public, patients, consumers and clinicians, payers, policymakers and other stakeholders about the benefits of telehealth, and to create an evidence base for the appropriate and effective use of telehealth in any clinical discipline,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO, the ATA. “These principles, developed by the ATA’s Clinician Council, inform the work of the ATA in driving policy, collaborating with other organizations, and establishing expectations with current and prospective members.”
Guiding directives reflected in the drafting of these principles include:
- Telehealth is an essential care modality to address gaps in today’s healthcare system.
- As such, telehealth is used to reimagine how healthcare is delivered.
- Patient care is enhanced when clinicians use the right care modality in a legal, ethical and appropriate manner.
Read the ATA’s new Principles of Practice here.
“These principles will act as a bellwether for our work and for the telehealth community at large,” said Joe Kvedar, MD, Professor, Harvard Medical School; Co-Chair, AMA DMPAG; Editor-in-Chief, npj Digital Medicine; Board member and Senior Clinical Advisor, the ATA; and Chair of the ATA Clinician Council. “This is a foundational framework upon which we will continue to build the resources, guidance and outreach to break down barriers to the adoption of telehealth.”
About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.
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