The American Heart Association has launched a new professional certification program designed to standardize digital health training for cardiac care providers as telehealth services expand rapidly across the healthcare landscape. The Digital Health in Cardiac Care certification represents the fourth offering in the Certified Professional by the American Heart Association portfolio, joining existing certifications in telehealth, telehealth stroke, and tobacco treatment.
This certification addresses the critical challenge healthcare providers face in learning to use new digital tools safely and effectively to treat patients with chronic heart conditions. The program aims to bridge the gap between traditional medical practice and remote patient monitoring systems while maintaining privacy standards and compatibility with existing healthcare infrastructure. Developed by the American Heart Association Center for Telehealth, the certification validates healthcare providers' expertise in delivering care through technology-enabled clinical settings.
Digital health in cardiac care encompasses the use of wearable devices, smartphone applications, telehealth platforms, and remote monitoring systems that allow patients to manage heart conditions outside traditional clinical environments—whether at home, work, or in community settings. According to Dr. Lee H. Schwamm, a volunteer member of the American Heart Association Center for Telehealth Expert Panel, this certification maintains quality standards while placing individuals at the center of care. "Digital health technology paves the way for better self-management, earlier detection of issues and improved treatment outcomes by delivering continuous data and insights to people living with chronic conditions and to their care teams," Schwamm stated.
The certification process includes comprehensive digital health literacy training to enhance professional understanding of technology terminology and promote behavior change among patients. It features evidence-based online education combining research, hands-on experiences, and established best practices. Assessment occurs through live remote-proctoring, with certification awards and renewals managed through American Heart Association platforms. Certified professionals receive personalized credentials valid for three years and opportunities for career advancement through displayed certification recognition.
Enrollment is available to licensed healthcare professionals or those pursuing licensure, including individuals with clinical or administrative backgrounds, as well as health and wellness specialists who use digital tools to monitor and engage with patients. The certification equips providers with skills to implement digital health best practices that build patient confidence in managing chronic conditions. The program brings the same gold standard the Association uses for hospital certifications to individual professional development, with a stroke coordinator certification planned for launch later this year.
This certification development comes as remote cardiac healthcare availability expands dramatically, creating an urgent need for standardized training protocols. The program represents a significant step toward ensuring that digital health technology standards remain clear, trusted, and widely adopted by healthcare providers across multiple settings. Through this initiative, the American Heart Association aims to boost patient engagement while empowering providers to manage chronic cardiac conditions more effectively using evolving digital tools and remote monitoring systems.
