Course on the basic level deals with the information society by establishing the socio-cultural, political and economic context of information and communication technologies with complex cause and effect associations.

Following themes are especially emphasised:

• concept and key characteristics of information society,
• relationship between technology, social structure and processes,
• the question of technological determinism,
• question of continuity and discontinuity of the information society in relation to an industrial society,
• integration, community, networks, inclusion and exclusion in the information society,
• choice, control, autonomy, planning, guidance and strength at an individual and (sub) system level in the information society,
• de-centred control centers in the information society,
• the relationship between market mechanisms and regulatory strategies,
• review and comparison of different theoretical approaches  to those themes,
• integration of telemedicine in the information society, digital tools for remote healthcare delivery (e.g., video conferencing, patient portals), organisational and
• legal frameworks for teleconsultations, ethical issues and privacy concerns, the impact of digital health on social structures, accessibility and inclusion of diverse groups in digital healthcare

Integration and deployment of telemedicine

Overview of Digital Infrastructure for Telemedicine and Digital Skills: Integration and Deployment of Telemedicine is a comprehensive training course designed to equip healthcare professionals, ICT specialists, and digital health stakeholders with the technical and strategic knowledge required to design, deploy, and manage modern telemedicine systems. The course introduces participants to the fundamental concepts of telemedicine, clarifying the distinctions between telemedicine, telehealth, and telemonitoring, while highlighting their growing importance in contemporary healthcare delivery. Learners explore the essential digital infrastructure underpinning telemedicine services, including high-speed communication networks, cloud computing, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices. Emphasis is placed on how these components interact to enable secure, scalable, and interoperable digital healthcare ecosystems.

A key focus of the course is security, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Participants gain an understanding of cybersecurity risks in telehealth environments and examine best practices such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and blockchain-based data integrity. The course also addresses major regulatory frameworks, including GDPR, ensuring learners can assess and support compliance in real-world telemedicine deployments. The course further explores the expanding role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) in telemedicine. Participants examine AI-powered diagnostics, remote patient monitoring, and clinical decision support systems, as well as emerging medical LLMs such as MedPaLM and Med-Gemini. These technologies are discussed in terms of their impact on patient engagement, clinical workflows, and decision-making.

Through a structured, practice-oriented approach, learners develop the skills needed to deploy, optimize, and evaluate telehealth solutions, ensuring interoperability, usability, and patient-centered design. By the end of the course, participants are prepared to contribute effectively to secure, innovative, and future-ready telemedicine initiatives within evolving digital health ecosystems.

Pobude in usposabljanje na področju telemedicine - Potrebe po usposabljanju in digitalna pismenost

Predmet Pobude in usposabljanje na področju telemedicine – potrebe po usposabljanju in digitalna pismenost obravnava globalne, evropske in nacionalne pobude na področju telemedicine ter njihov pomen za sodobne zdravstvene sisteme. Osredotoča se na izobraževalne potrebe zdravstvenih in IT strokovnjakov ter poudarja digitalno pismenost kot ključno kompetenco za uspešno izvajanje telemedicine. S pomočjo študij primerov, igranja vlog in razprav o etičnih vprašanjih udeleženci razvijajo znanja s področja teleposvetov, varstva podatkov in učinkovite uporabe digitalnih zdravstvenih tehnologij.

Telemedicina: Pravna in regulativna okvira

Ta tečaj obravnava bistvene pravne, regulativne in etične vidike telemedicine. Udeleženci bodo razumeli nacionalne in mednarodne zakonodajne okvire, ki urejajo virtualno zdravstveno oskrbo, prepoznali ključne komponente digitalne infrastrukture ter preučili ključne tehnologije, vključno z umetno inteligenco, IoT in kibernetsko varnostjo. S pomočjo interaktivnih študij primerov in praktičnih scenarijev bodo udeleženci razvili veščine za etično izvajanje telemedicine, pri čemer bodo zagotovili varnost pacientov, poklicno integriteto in skladnost z regulativnimi standardi.

This course explores the role of telemedicine in delivering medical care under wartime and crisis conditions. Participants will learn:

• The fundamental concepts, tasks, and applications of telemedicine in medical institutions and emergency care.

• The benefits, methods, and tools of telemedicine for supporting mental health, with a focus on increasing access to care in conflict-affected regions.

• How to implement digital technologies for effective rehabilitation, reducing disability and improving public health in settings with limited medical resources.

The course equips students and healthcare professionals with knowledge and practical strategies to enhance medical services where traditional care is challenged by war, resource scarcity, or remoteness.

Uporabniki bodo seznanjeni z možnostmi uporabe telemedicine na področju javnega zdravja in zdravstvenega turizma. Navedeno bo, kje se telemedicina uporablja kot inovativna strategija v sektorju javnega zdravja in kako lahko telemedicina poveča učinkovitost javnozdravstvenih intervencij, hkrati pa zmanjša stroške. Uporabnikom bo pojasnjena sinergija med telemedicino in zdravstvenim turizmom. Navedene bodo prednosti in izboljšave, ki jih telemedicina ponuja ponudnikom storitev na področju zdravstvenega turizma. Uporabniki bodo seznanjeni tudi z morebitnimi omejitvami in težavami, ki se lahko pojavijo pri uporabi telemedicine tako v sektorju javnega zdravja kot v sektorju zdravstvenega turizma. Nazadnje bo pojasnjeno, kako lahko telemedicina uspešno poveže ta dva sektorja - javno zdravje in zdravstveni turizem.

Communication of Technological Integration and Innovations: Technological Integration and Soft Skills Development is a multidisciplinary training course designed to support the effective adoption of telemedicine and digital health innovations in modern healthcare settings. The course targets healthcare professionals, biomedical engineers, and digital health stakeholders who play a critical role in bridging technological development with clinical practice and patient-centered care. The course provides a solid foundation in telemedicine concepts and digital infrastructure, introducing participants to core technological components such as sensors, remote patient monitoring systems, mobile health applications, cloud platforms, and electronic health record (EHR) integration. Through practical examples and real-world case studies—such as orthopedic post-surgery monitoring—learners explore how telemedicine solutions are integrated into clinical workflows to enhance continuity of care, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

A distinctive feature of the course is its strong emphasis on communication and soft skills in digital healthcare environments. Participants develop strategies for clear, empathetic, and effective communication with patients, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders. Key topics include patient education, managing privacy concerns, explaining complex technologies in accessible language, and maintaining trust in virtual care settings. The course also addresses ethical, legal, and data protection considerations, including GDPR and HIPAA compliance, ensuring responsible and secure telemedicine practice. In addition, the course highlights the evolving role of biomedical engineers and healthcare professionals as facilitators of innovation, supporting usability, safety, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Learners strengthen essential soft skills such as teamwork, conflict resolution, cultural sensitivity, and “webside manner,” which are critical for successful technology adoption. By combining technological knowledge with communication excellence, the course equips participants to effectively deploy telemedicine solutions while promoting patient engagement, trust, and sustainable digital health integration.

Programi usposabljanja na področju telemedicine in uporabe v praksi: javno-zasebna partnerstva in financiranje

Tečaj "Programi usposabljanja na področju telemedicine in uporabe v praksi: javno-zasebna partnerstva in financiranje" je celovit izobraževalni program, namenjen zdravstvenim strokovnjakom, izobraževalcem, oblikovalcem politik in deležnikom na področju digitalnega zdravja, da pridobijo znanje in veščine za načrtovanje, izvajanje in trajnostno vzdrževanje telemedicinskih pobud z učinkovitim sodelovanjem in inovativnimi finančnimi modeli. Tečaj se osredotoča na strateško vlogo javno-zasebnih partnerstev (PPP) pri širjenju dostopa do telemedicinskih storitev in zagotavljanju njihove dolgoročne trajnosti. Udeleženci raziskujejo, kako vlade, zasebna podjetja, akademske ustanove, nevladne organizacije in mednarodne organizacije sodelujejo pri zagotavljanju razširljivih rešitev digitalnega zdravja v različnih zdravstvenih sistemih. S pomočjo študij primerov iz prakse in globalnih primerov udeleženci pridobijo vpogled v uspešne modele partnerstev, politične okvire in regulativne vidike, ki oblikujejo uvajanje telemedicine po svetu. Ključni del tečaja je analiza mehanizmov financiranja telemedicinskih programov, vključno z javnimi subvencijami, mednarodnimi sredstvi, korporativnimi sponzorstvi ter novimi modeli, kot sta množično financiranje in financiranje na podlagi rezultatov. Poudarek je na trajnosti, finančnem načrtovanju in usklajevanju finančnih strategij z zdravstvenimi in izobraževalnimi cilji. Tečaj poudarja tudi vse večji pomen strukturiranih programov usposabljanja in mikro-kvalifikacij ter potrebo po nadgradnji znanj zdravstvenih strokovnjakov na področju digitalnih orodij, kibernetske varnosti, varstva podatkov in učnih okolij, podprtih z umetno inteligenco. Udeleženci se seznanijo tudi s prihodnjimi trendi, kot so platforme za učenje z umetno inteligenco in certificiranje na osnovi tehnologije blockchain. Tečaj se izvaja v fleksibilni spletni obliki ter spodbuja sodobne delovne prakse, digitalno sodelovanje in medsektorsko komunikacijo. Po zaključku bodo udeleženci sposobni kritično ovrednotiti modele PPP, oceniti možnosti financiranja in učinkovito prispevati k razvoju trajnostnih telemedicinskih in izobraževalnih pobud na področju digitalnega zdravja.

EU Overview and Recommendations: International Collaboration in Telemedicine is an advanced training course designed to strengthen participants’ understanding of cross-border cooperation in telemedicine within the European and international context. The course equips healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, and policy stakeholders with the knowledge required to navigate EU policies, funding mechanisms, and collaborative networks that support digital health innovation and telemedicine deployment. The course begins by introducing the foundations of international collaboration in telemedicine, highlighting the growing need for cross-border digital healthcare solutions to improve access, quality, and continuity of care. Participants explore the European policy landscape shaping telemedicine, including key regulatory frameworks such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and GDPR, with a focus on interoperability, data security, and patient rights in cross-border healthcare. Common legal, technical, and organizational barriers to international telemedicine collaboration are examined, alongside practical strategies for overcoming them.

A central component of the course focuses on EU funding opportunities, with particular emphasis on the Erasmus+ Programme. Participants gain a clear understanding of Erasmus+ Key Actions (KA1, KA2, Alliances for Innovation, and Capacity Building in Higher Education) and how these instruments support education, training, mobility, and cooperation in telemedicine and digital health. Guidance is provided on designing, applying for, and implementing EU-funded telemedicine projects, including partnership building, project management, and impact generation. The course also explores the role of international networks and associations in advancing telemedicine, such as global and European digital health communities. Learners are encouraged to actively engage in these networks to foster collaboration, exchange best practices, and support innovation. Delivered through a blend of lectures and practical activities, the course enables participants to develop concrete strategies for international telemedicine cooperation, positioning them to contribute effectively to EU-funded projects and global digital health initiatives.