Welcome to AAMC's 2022 Telehealth Equity Catalyst (TEC) Awards and Pilot Grants

Background
Many communities across the nation lack sufficient broadband availability and/or reliable cellular service, and the cost of these technologies is a barrier to millions more. For some, a lack of digital literacy is a substantial barrier to the use of telehealth. For others, underlying deficits in trust in the health care system are often magnified by a sense of intrusion with these technologies. Additional barriers may exist for those with sensory limitations, persons with challenges in communication and social interactions, and for non-English speakers, as well as for those who need a family member or guardian to participate in their care. While telehealth has the capability to advance health care equity for many populations, particularly those in rural and under-resourced communities, ignoring the current barriers creates a risk for widening disparities in access to care rather than narrowing them. Additionally, in order to promote equitable access to care, physicians need to be aware of, address, and apply efforts to mitigate these potential barriers, as well as their own cultural biases and potential personal bias for or against telehealth.

Call for Applications
Through the TEC Awards and Pilot Grants, the AAMC aims to recognize and highlight the efforts of AAMC-member institutions that are advancing health care equity through telehealth and health technology in new and effective ways, while tackling barriers to care via telehealth that impact health and health care equity. New this year, AAMC members will also be able to apply for a TEC Pilot Grant in clinical delivery and/or medical education. The AAMC expects to make awards/grants for both the second annual TEC Awards and the new TEC Pilot Grants.

TEC Award applications must reflect programs that demonstrate a positive impact on barriers associated with telehealth and health technology.

TEC Pilot Grant applications must show how their proposed program will tackle barriers associated with telehealth and health technology.

For both the TEC Award and TEC Pilot Grant, applications must fall into one of two tracks:

1. Track 1—Clinical delivery: Program or pilot proposal that identifies and addresses barriers associated with accessing care via telehealth and technology.
2. Track 2—Medical training: Educational program or pilot proposal in undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, or continuing medical education and professional development that focuses on access and equity in telehealth. This may include curricula, educational activities, assessment tools, and/or related resources, established within the context of AAMC Telehealth Competencies.

The TEC Awards and Pilot Grants will reflect innovative contributions to health care delivery or medical training that can serve as models for other institutions to address and mitigate the barriers to care associated with telehealth, particularly for communities that are under-resourced with limited access to health care services. Applicants will be eligible to receive $15,000 to assist with sustaining and/or scaling their program or to assist with the implementation and evaluation of the proposed pilot.

Application Eligibility
Only AAMC-member medical schools and health systems are eligible for an award or grant. AAMC member-institutions may submit no more than one application per track for the TEC Awards and TEC Pilot Grants.

Application Submission
Applicants must complete the online application and upload an institutional letter of support and additional documents, as required, outlined in the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered or reviewed. Applicants are encouraged to develop and save their responses in a separate document before submitting the online application form.

Application Checklist (Submit no later than May 6, 2022, 11:59 p.m. ET)
-Complete online application form
-Upload institutional letter of support (see application instructions)
-For TEC Pilot Grant: Upload a 12-month project timeline and brief bios for key collaborators (see application instructions)
-Optional: Upload up to two additional materials (see application instructions)