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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth

Utilizing Patient Geographic Information System Data to Plan Telemedicine Service Locations
Describes a model for determining optimal locations for telemedicine service providers by using electronic health record (EHR) data in a geographic information system (GIS). Demonstrates the method for extracting GIS patient data from EHRs using an EHR sample of 4,027 visits to a neurodevelopmental pediatric service provider in 2011-2012. Discusses potential and limitations for using EHR data and GIS mapping to plan for specific telemedicine interventions.
Author(s): Neelkamal Soares, Joseph Dewalle, Ben Marsh
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(5), 891-896
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Using Telehealth to Identify and Manage Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Conditions in Rural Areas
Reports on an environmental scan, discussions with providers and stakeholders, and site visits regarding how telehealth supports behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. Addresses how telehealth is used, implementation, services offered, financing and sustainability. Focuses on the implications for treating opioid use disorders in rural areas, in particular, using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with support from telehealth. Appendix B includes site briefs from the 9 states included in the study.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Financing Project ECHO: Options for State Medicaid Programs
Outlines how 4 states are using Medicaid funds to support Project ECHO and enhance services for rural and other at-risk populations in California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. Shares design considerations for specific delivery system environments and ways to ensure long-term program sustainability. Project ECHO seeks to expand access to specialty healthcare services in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Greg Howe, Allison Hamblin, Lauren Moran
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Medicaid Financing Models for Project ECHO
Explains the different Medicaid financing mechanisms available for supporting current and potential Project ECHO strategies. Options are listed in table format and organized into three categories: managed care, care management programs, and value-based payment strategies and integrated care programs.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Telehealth and Patient Satisfaction: A Systematic Review and Narrative Analysis
Provides a literature review on articles related to patient satisfaction of telehealth regarding its effectiveness and efficiency. Discusses factors such as cost, health outcomes, quality, ease of use, communication, drive time, access to healthcare, and more, with references to telehealth impacts specific to rural populations.
Author(s): Clemens Scott Kruse, Nicole Krowski, Blanca Rodriguez, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 7(8)
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
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The Status of Telemedicine in Missouri
Provides background information on rural healthcare issues in Missouri and discusses the value of using telehealth to improve rural healthcare access. Discusses policy recommendations such as broadband access and details about eligibility and payment requirements for telemedicine.
Author(s): Dave Dillon, Jim Mikes
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Hospital Association
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Creating a Framework to Support Measure Development for Telehealth
Reports on efforts intended to advance telehealth quality measurement by developers, researchers, analysts, and other members of the healthcare community. Includes case studies of several programs geared toward patients in rural areas.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Research Highlight: The Virtual Specialty Care QUERI Program - Improving Access to High-Quality Specialty Care for Rural Veterans
Highlights the Virtual Specialty Care (VSC) QUERI Program, a measure to support operational partners, such as the Office of Rural Health, Office of Connected Care, and Mental Health Services, as virtual care technologies are implemented to increase access to specialty care for rural veterans. Discusses the challenges of evaluating rapidly evolving technologies without stifling their development.
Author(s): John Fortney, Greg Reger, Alexis Beatty
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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Improving Access to High Quality Sepsis Care in a South Dakota Emergency Telemedicine Network
Research and policy brief exploring whether emergency department-based telemedicine networks using real-time access to sepsis experts can improve outcomes and decrease variation in care. Discusses a pilot program for Critical Access Hospitals in South Dakota-based Avera Health's 140-hospital network in 12 states. Includes statistics for patients with positive sepsis screens from September 2016 to March 2017.
Author(s): Nicholas M. Mohr, Brian Skow, Amy Wittrock, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Telehealth Private Payer Laws: Impact and Issues
Analyzes the body of state-level telehealth reimbursement policies, which has grown rapidly in both size and scope since 2010. Seeks to understand how these policies impact telehealth utilization, and the effect private payer laws have on selected commercial payers. Includes information on payment parity laws, modalities, site restrictions, Medicaid policies, and more.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center, Milbank Memorial Fund
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