University researchers raise awareness of Telehalth and Telecare with our future doctors

The RAT group have continued to expand their remit of teaching on the emerging fields of telehealth and telecare, with their ‘masterclass’ for medical students at the University of Sheffield.

During May researchers Claire Bentley, Dr Jack Parker and Lauren Powell delivered a five week masterclass for a group of future doctors, aimed at preparing them to champion the use of technology in health and social care when they enter their professional careers.

As part of the course experts from within the telehealth and telecare fields were introduced to the students. Visiting healthcare professionals, industry partners and patients spoke with the group about their experiences and expertise of championing telehealth at the frontline. The group also had demonstrations of and hands-on experience with a range of different technologies, such as alert systems and monitoring devices, from CityWide Care Alarms, Sheffield City Council. In the final week the students presented what they had learned to the team.

Telehealth and telecare have steadily grown in their presence in UK health and social care delivery in the past decade or so. Engaging pre-registration healthcare professionals is a key element of moving towards making these technologies an integral part of health and social care services of the future.