Expand your skill set in digital health
A microcredential course designed for the rural and remote health workforce
Welcome to the digital health for rural and remote health workforce course
Digital health has the potential to significantly transform healthcare delivery and access for people living in rural and remote areas. A connected and digitally enabled health system supports more equitable access to person-centered services, using readily available data to inform health decision-making. Importantly, a digitally capable health workforce can effectively leverage digital health technologies to innovate and improve healthcare delivery to people living in geographically distant areas.
Flexible
Learning is 100% online and self-paced
Free
Currently available at no cost
Fit
Designed for the rural and remote health workforce
What will I learn?
In this course you will explore a range of topics designed to enhance your skills as a digitally capable health professional. This will include:
- Explain concepts, tools, frameworks and systems relevant to supporting digital health adoption, use and innovation.
- Summarise health system outcomes enhanced by digital health in your healthcare context.
- Analyse the complex problems associated with implementation of digital health initiatives in regional, rural and remote Australia.
- Propose a fit-for-purpose digital health initiative to support sustainable healthcare in your healthcare context.
Course structure
The course is structured as three discrete credentials. This means you can study one, two or three of the course credentials, allowing you to enter at any point, depending on your previous knowledge and experience and your unique digital health education needs.
Let’s take a closer look at the contents of each credential:
Credential 1: Foundations of digital health in rural and remote health contexts
Provides you with an overview of foundational digital health concepts, before moving to discuss your role as a digitally capable healthcare professional. In addition, important governance considerations, frameworks and industry standards relevant to the Australian healthcare context are covered in this first credential.
This credential contains three units of learning:
- Foundational concepts
- Digitally capable healthcare professionals
- Governance, frameworks, regulatory and industry standards
How will I be assessed? You must complete a series of activities and a multiple-choice quiz to complete this credential.
Credential 2: Leveraging digital health technologies for rural and remote health
Gives you a comprehensive overview of the many technologies encompassing digital health. In addition, the vital elements required to maintain, monitor and secure digital health data are highlighted in this credential.
This credential contains three units of learning:
- Technologies – part 1
- Technologies – part 2
- Data, monitoring and security
How will I be assessed? You must complete a series of activities and a discussion board post to complete this credential.
Credential 3: Implementing digital health initiatives for rural and remote healthcare delivery
Encourages you to consider your own health context and the enablers and barriers existing in healthcare delivery in this context. You will explore the patient journey, the digital divide and think about digital health initiatives that could be planned and implemented within your healthcare context to improve healthcare delivery.
This credential contains three units of learning:
- Digitally enabled workflows
- Mapping the patient journey
- Implementation and evaluation
How will I be assessed? You must complete a series of activities, a multiple-choice quiz, and a discussion board post to complete this credential.
Duration – Each credential is estimated to take about 5-8 hours to complete. You can start at any time and learn from anywhere. All resources and activities are available online, so you will need a computer and internet to access the learning platform.
Who is this course for?
This course has no specific entry requirements, but it has been designed for people with experience and knowledge working in a rural, regional or remote healthcare environment in Australia, or anyone with an interest in digital health in a rural and remote context.
The course will help you develop an evidence-based foundation of digital health, and a sound understanding of the relevant concepts and applications of digital health technologies to the health sector. It assumes that learners are able to work independently to complete tasks that increase in complexity and specialist terminology.
You will engage with contemporary multimedia content and complete activities that allow you to consolidate and apply your learning to your specific workplace context
You will be guided to complete online activities that will equip you with the understanding of how to optimise digital health as part of your routine practice
On successful completion of each credential, you will obtain the skills and knowledge required by digitally capable health professionals working in rural and remote settings
Showcase your verified skills and accomplishments – coming soon!
Upon successfully completing each credential, learners are awarded a digital badge that serves as a digital representation of their achievement. This badge will allow you to easily communicate your skills and accomplishments online. They can be used in email signatures, digital resumes, personal websites and social media platforms, and are a great way to increase opportunities in the workforce and beyond.
NB – The credentials are not aligned to a formal qualification level. Achievement of the learning outcomes does not lead to an offer of admission or credit towards a formal qualification.
Statement of quality assurance
This microcredential was developed by Dr Tracey Ahern, Pieta Shakes, Tracey Gooding, and Jessica Best from Nursing and Midwifery, College of Healthcare Science at James Cook University. Course learning outcomes, content and activities were designed in alignment with National Digital Health Strategy 2023-2028 and reviewed by individuals with expertise in digital health. Quality assurance includes the ongoing course review and student experience engagement and evaluation.