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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth

The Use of Telemedicine to Address Access and Physician Workforce Shortages
Policy statement discussing opportunities to use telemedicine technologies to address pediatric workforce shortages in rural and urban settings. Offers information on improving access to care, physician capacity, quality of care, and costs of care.
Author(s): James P. Marcin, Mary E. Rimsza, William B. Moskowitz
Citation: Pediatrics, 136(1), 202-209
Date: 07/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Academy of Pediatrics
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Telemedicine: The Promise and Challenges
Provides an overview of telemedicine including a definition, current applications, policy issues surrounding it, evidence for its use, and a look forward to the future of the service delivery model. Includes examples of the application of telehealth services in rural areas. Lists resources with additional information.
Author(s): Deanna Okrent
Date: 06/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Alliance for Health Policy
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Benefits of Early Versus Delayed Palliative Care to Informal Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer: Outcomes From the ENABLE III Randomized Controlled Trial
Examines the effects of introducing early palliative care intervention in rural settings for family caregivers (CGs) of patients with advanced-stage cancer by comparing the ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise Before Life Ends) model of early palliative care with the customary cancer care. Addresses the CGs needs and how meeting these needs would support problem solving, decision making, and advance care planning.
Author(s): J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, Andres Azuero, Kathleen D. Lyons, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33(13), 1446-1452
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
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Early Versus Delayed Initiation of Concurrent Palliative Oncology Care: Patient Outcomes in the ENABLE III Randomized Controlled Trial
Examines the effects of early versus delayed palliative care, the ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends) model. ENABLE has shown to be an effective telehealth model particularly for patients with advanced stages of cancer and family caregivers in rural areas. Patient outcomes reported focused on quality of life, symptoms, temperament, survival rate, and hospital and clinical care use.
Author(s): Marie A. Bakitas, Tor D. Tosteson, Zhigang Li, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33(13), 1438-1445
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
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Cost Effectiveness of On-site versus Off-site Depression Collaborative Care in Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers
Highlights a study on the cost-effectiveness of on-site versus a telehealth-based collaborative care when treating depression in a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Considers variable, fixed, inpatient, and outpatient costs, among others.
Author(s): Jeffrey M. Pyne, John C. Fortney, Sip Mouden, et al.
Citation: Psychiatric Services, 66(5), 491-499
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
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Realizing the Promise of Telehealth: Understanding the Legal and Regulatory Challenges
Describes federal and state compliance issues and regulatory challenges specific to the implementation of telehealth technologies in hospitals, healthcare systems, and with providers, and how they will affect telehealth services, particularly in rural healthcare facilities. Includes discussion on coverage and payment including Medicare and Medicaid, health professional licensure and credentialing, online prescribing, patient privacy, fraud, and medical malpractice and professional liability insurance.
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Mobile Health and Patient Engagement in the Safety Net: A Survey of Community Health Centers and Clinics
Discusses the results of a survey of rural and urban community health clinics and other clinics to evaluate the use of cell phones to engage patients in their healthcare. Highlights areas where the use of cell phones has shown to be successful in chronic disease management.
Author(s): Andrew Broderick, Farshid Haque
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Testimony by Kristi Henderson, University of Mississippi Medical Center, before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Testimony presented at a May 7, 2015 Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on rural health. Discusses how telehealth is improving healthcare in rural communities. Includes examples of telehealth across the nation, with more in-depth information about the telehealth services available to rural Mississippi through the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Center for Telehealth.
Author(s): Kristi Henderson
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Appropriations
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Statement of Sean Cavanaugh, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, on Rural Health before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Testimony presented at a May 7, 2015 Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on rural health. Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities to improve access to services for rural Medicare beneficiaries. Discusses telehealth, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and rural projects being tested through the Health Care Innovation Awards.
Author(s): Sean Cavanaugh, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Appropriations
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The Persistent Health Care Gap for Children Living in Poverty: Will the Health Technology Revolution Level the Playing Field?
Discusses the need for and challenges to expanding healthcare technology for medically underserved children living in poverty stricken areas and rural areas. Highlights the potential to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes through the use of electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth, mobile medical clinics and diagnostic tools, and mobile communication devices. Offers recommendations for accelerating the use of technology in rural and underserved areas.
Date: 04/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Children's Health Fund
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