Telehealth: Ethics and Best Practices

Telehealth: Ethics and Best Practices is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that examines ethical principles and best practices in remote online therapy.

Telehealth, also known as teletherapy, telepractice, telepsychology, telerehabilitation (and a variety of other names), involves participating in therapeutic services through a digital platform. Patients can consult with their healthcare provider via computer, tablet, or smartphone without needing to visit their office. Telehealth is particularly beneficial for individuals in remote areas or those who have difficulty accessing traditional medical facilities. It encompasses a range of services, including virtual visits, health education, and remote patient monitoring.

The primary and most obvious difference between telehealth and in-person treatment is the fact that the patient is not in the same room as the clinician. This lack of physical presence can limit the range of information available or how accurately it is observed. Communication can be influenced by camera angle, screen size, room characteristics, and other technical factors like bandwidth that may result in poor-quality video and/or audio and prohibit the observation of all behaviors.

This course will provide an introduction to telehealth, discuss the pros and cons, address ethical considerations (such as competence, informed consent, HIPAA, etc.), how to get started with telehealth (including when to use, not use, or when to combine services), offer practice tips (including camera positioning and cultivating trust), and discuss evidence-based uses for mental health, nutrition, speech, and occupational therapy.

A final section will offer best practices for telehealth in mental health, nutrition therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Self-efficacy, and how to enhance it, is also discussed.

Outline:

Introduction
Section 1: Pros (and Cons) of Telehealth
Section 2: Ethical Considerations
Section 3: Getting Started with Telehealth
Section 4: Telehealth Practice Tips
Section 5: Evidence-Based Uses for Telehealth
Section 6: Best Practices
Summary and Conclusions
Resources

Florida: This course meets the “telehealth” license renewal requirement for counselors, social workers, and MFTs (we report to CE Broker for you " for all other professions it will count for “ethics” credit when applicable).

RDNs/SLPs/OTs: This course is undergoing approval by CDR/ASHA/AOTA.

Course #31-57 | 2026 | 20 posttest questions | Mobile-Friendly