Telecare & Telehealth Integrated Code of Practice

The Telecare Services Association has now opened the new Telehealth Code of Practice for accreditation.  This, together with the existing TSA Telecare Code of Practice, will form the TSA Integrated Code of Practice, the only customer-centred integrated code of practice for telecare and telehealth services available.

This integrated quality standard is an important step toward the vision of patient centred, integrated health and social care.  Individual elements of the code for both telecare and telehealth will still be available as the code of practice is modular based to enable service providers to gain accreditation according to the services they offer within their particular business model.

In addition, as services develop and integration between health and social care becomes widespread, the ability to assess integrated technology enabled services will be critical.  The TSA Integrated Code of Practice will be central to ensuring that these services, whether delivered as an integrated service offer, or within a specific care or health only pathway, will be of the highest possible quality.

The TSA Integrated Code of Practice is a national quality framework against which service providers of telecare and telehealth services can be accredited.  The code has been written to respond to the challenges of an evolving health and social care system, and in support of national frameworks and priorities including the National Telehealth and Telecare Delivery Plan for Scotland to 2015; 3millionlives, one of six high impact innovations for England; Transforming Your Care.  A Review of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland December 2011 and The Strategy for Older People in Wales (Phase Three) 2013-2023.

Organisations will be able to select the modules that are applicable to their service offer and apply for accreditation.  These may be telecare only, telehealth only, or a combination of the two.  In order to achieve this, the modular approach, which has worked so well for the telecare code, has been retained and extended for the telehealth code.

Open to All

Any organisation delivering relevant services may be eligible to become TSA code accredited.  If, for some reason, your organisation does not wish to take advantage of the benefits TSA membership brings, you can still apply for code accreditation.

There are, however, real advantages to becoming a TSA member and more information about this can be found on our website or by contacting the TSA Member Services Centre.