About CE4TA
Why does CE4TA exist?
COVID-19 amplified the existing hurdles that older adults face in getting the care they need
Older adults commonly live with complex and ongoing medical conditions. Many face a confusing and slow health care system that is often ill-equipped to meet their unique needs. COVID-19 left many older adults without safe options to stay connected with their providers and receive regular care.
Telehealth emerged as a solution older adult care but came with its own set of challenges
Health care providers and payers set up remote access to care for patients as fast as possible and patients responded with a significant increase in telehealth visits nationwide. These services were lifelines for many older adults during the worst of the pandemic. However, as access to in-person care returns to normal, now is the time to assess how well-positioned existing telehealth programs are to meet the ongoing needs of older Americans.Â
The way forward is to align telehealth services with age-inclusive principles and guidelines
When telehealth is designed to be age-inclusive, it can improve health-related outcomes, increase the quality of and satisfaction with care, and serve as a needed lifeline for older adults. Creating an age-inclusive telehealth program means designing systems that are accessible, equitable, person-centered, coordinated, and integrated for older adults.
About The Center of Excellence for Telehealth and Aging
West Health Institute (WHI), the University of Virginia (UVA) Department of Geriatrics, and the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC), partnered to create the Center of Excellence for Telehealth and Aging (CE4TA). CE4TA was established to advance the adoption of age-inclusive telehealth. It is a unique platform to foster a national discussion and movement to advance age-inclusive telehealth for older adults.
Our mission is to provide an open learning community that supports providers and organizations in delivering high-quality and effective care to older adults that accounts for their unique needs and supports their ability to age in place and live with dignity.
We achieve our mission by giving providers and organizations with practical tools, resources, and a community of leaders to support the delivery of age-inclusive telehealth. CE4TA is also a place that showcases the achievements of our healthcare partners in improved access and care for older adults. We aim to empower providers and health systems to successfully implement safe and effective telehealth programs for older adults by helping them quickly and easily access the best, up-to-date information.
Our vision is to evolve and expand best practices that can decrease barriers, improve adoption, and establish quality standards and competencies in telehealth for older adults. Our guiding roadmap for this work is a set of recommended Principles and Guidelines for Telehealth & Aging created by a group of subject matter experts including geriatricians, telehealth providers, health system administrators, and patient advocates. This group is called the Collaborative for Telehealth and Aging (C4TA). Visit our Partners Page to learn more about C4TA.
Principles and Guidelines for Telehealth & Aging
Equitable & Accessible
All people should have equal access to the same level of high-quality care regardless of age, ability, socio-economic status, or health and technology literacy
Person-Centered
Older adults should be at the center of decision-making—accounting for their care preferences, goals, wishes, abilities, support system, and conditions