At World Telehealth Initiative, our programs are the heart of what we do. Program Associates, Jessica Koval and Courtney Hauschild work hard to launch new programs at underserved clinics and hospitals and ensure existing programs run smoothly. They share an inside look at onboarding and supporting new healthcare providers as they join our existing network of 1,300 clinicians worldwide.

Jessica Koval

Program Associate

Courtney Hauschild

Program Associate

How do you connect with healthcare providers looking to participate in World Telehealth Initiative programs and onboard them?

Courtney: Volunteer providers join our mission because they want to share their knowledge and make a difference in under-resourced communities. They reach out through various avenues, including our website, colleague referrals, global healthcare conferences, or through their employer health system. We also connect with each on-site provider at our partner clinics and hospitals in underserved areas. Each of them registers with World Telehealth Initiative through our provider portal—a powerful tool that uses our unique algorithm to match volunteer providers with relevant opportunities to support clinicians at our partner clinics and hospitals. Providers can tailor their preferences, enter their medical specialty, and more. This ensures volunteers are offered opportunities that are a good fit and on-site providers receive the support they need.

Why is telehealth training so important, and how does it make World Telehealth Initiative unique?

Jessica: Using this telehealth technology for the first time is a whole new experience. Our partners in low-resource hospitals and clinics are often not familiar with remote healthcare via telehealth, and patients may not be familiar with it either.

Courtney or I connect with every provider to conduct a personal Live Simulation Training at the Technical Innovation Center at the Teladoc Health office in Santa Barbara, California. It is a dynamic training environment resembling a mock hospital, available 24/7 for provider access. Providers connect to a telehealth robot at the center via their computer, tablet, or phone. We offer a hands-on training experience with guidance on best practices to help them feel at ease navigating our telehealth robots. We show them how to use features such as zoom, panning by moving the robot’s head, and diagnostic tools. The immersive experience mirrors what they might encounter when connecting to our partner sites across the globe.

How do the clinicians you train react to using the telehealth technology for the first time?

Courtney: Clinicians are amazed by the technology when connecting to the telehealth robot for the first time. They often express how user-friendly and easy it is to navigate. When we guide them through the hands-on training, everything comes to life for them. They begin to envision the potential and impact of telehealth technology—they are inspired to explore new avenues for collaboration, supporting patient care, and influencing global health on a larger scale. The initial awe and wonderment that clinicians experience when introduced to this telehealth technology is a testament to its transformative power.

What is special about the telehealth technology World Telehealth Initiative utilizes?

Jessica: We are so fortunate to use state-of-the-art technology donated by Teladoc Health. The powerful cloud-based network connects providers from the comfort of their home or office to World Telehealth Initiative program sites around the world.

World Telehealth Initiative primarily uses the Teladoc Lite V3 model. This telehealth device is diagnostic-enabled with a range of peripheral devices, including digital stethoscopes and ultrasound equipment. The Lite robot is mobile, allowing maximal value at our partner sites. It may be in the operating room for a morning surgical mentoring session, then moved to the conference room for an afternoon lecture, and finally in a ward for evening rounding.

Our invaluable partnership with Teladoc Health and the innovative technology they provide enables World Telehealth Initiative to be at the forefront of revolutionizing global healthcare in low-resource settings.