TEAM Project: Executive Summary of Telemedicine Education and Industry Partnership Mapping (WP2) Released
The Telemedicine Education Advancement through Micro-credentials (TEAM) project, co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, has reached another critical milestone with the completion of the Executive Summary of the Telemedicine Education and Industry Partnership Mapping (WP2). This summary provides key insights into the current state of telemedicine education, training programs, and industry partnerships across five participating countries: Croatia, Greece, Romania, Slovenia, and Ukraine, as well as a general report on the EU.
The WP2 Executive Summary highlights several important findings:
- Mapping telemedicine education: The study identified the existing telemedicine education and training programs in each participating country, focusing on their scope, reach, and alignment with modern healthcare needs. It highlighted gaps in digital literacy and the need for enhanced training for healthcare professionals to fully integrate telemedicine into everyday practice.
- Skills gap analysis: The report identified a significant gap in telemedicine-related skills, especially in rural and underserved areas. Healthcare providers often lack the necessary digital competencies, making it difficult to effectively utilize telemedicine technologies and deliver remote care.
- Digital infrastructure: While several countries, such as Croatia and Greece, have made notable progress in deploying telemedicine centers and mobile health units, the report emphasizes the need for further investment in digital infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote regions, to ensure equitable access to telemedicine services.
- Legislative and regulatory challenges: Regulatory frameworks vary significantly across countries. The report underscores the need for harmonized regulations that address licensing, reimbursement, and data privacy, which are essential for the sustainable adoption of telemedicine.
- Partnerships with industry: The summary stresses the importance of fostering partnerships between educational institutions and industry stakeholders. By strengthening these relationships, the TEAM project aims to encourage the adoption of telemedicine practices and promote the development of digital health training programs that are in line with industry needs.
- Opportunities for growth: Despite the challenges, there are numerous opportunities to expand telemedicine education, including government-backed initiatives and investments in telemedicine infrastructure. Romania, for instance, has allocated €100 million for telemedicine as part of its Recovery and Resilience Plan, emphasizing the potential for large-scale adoption.
The Executive Summary not only provides a clear roadmap for addressing the challenges and opportunities in telemedicine education but also highlights the TEAM project’s continued commitment to advancing digital health and creating a workforce capable of meeting Europe’s healthcare needs.
The findings and recommendations will inform the next steps of the TEAM project, as the consortium moves forward with the development of comprehensive training resources and digital tools to support telemedicine education and industry integration.
Contact Information:
ihf@europe.eu
