Northstar Digital Literacy: Digital Literacy Skills for Telehealth

Through a multi-phase project, Northstar will develop several digital health literacy modules. In Phase 1, the focus of this Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) application, Northstar will identify the standards and create an assessment to gauge individuals' digital literacy skills that are needed for successful telehealth participation. Digital literacy is a critical skillset needed to ensure everyone has access to quality health care. Providing devices and internet service alone are not enough – people need digital skills in order to effectively gain digital access. In subsequent phases, Northstar will add a telehealth curriculum and online learning resources and build additional digital health literacy modules. More than 5 million Northstar assessments have been taken since its 2012 launch. When Northstar adds digital health modules, digital inclusion and greater digital health care access will be possible for millions more Americans, leading to improved health equity across the United States.