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Rural Health Information Hub

Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare.

Journey Map: Older Adults in Rural Areas Using Remote Patient Monitoring Technologies to Manage Chronic Conditions
A guide for rural health centers describing how to help older adult patients with multiple chronic conditions regarding the use of remote patient monitoring (RPM). Describes a five-step journey that a patient will go through while exploring RPM, and the role of the health center in this process.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
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2023 Physician Fee Schedule Update
Webinar recording discusses the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Calendar Year (CY) 2023 Physician Fee Schedule and highlights how the policy changes around behavioral health and telehealth services may affect rural communities. Features presentations from representatives of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the CMS Center for Medicare, Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group, Division of Ambulatory Services.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides, Webinar Transcript
Date: 12/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Disparities in Patient Portal Access by U.S. Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reports on a population-based survey to determine if socio-demographic disparities exist in accessing online patient portals. Using data from the 2020 U.S. Health Information National Trends Survey, insured adults who had a medical visit in the previous 12 months were asked about their knowledge, access, and use of online medical records. Demographic characteristics of patients who were offered access, and for patients who accessed online portals are compared. Reasons for not using an online portal are discussed. Compares online patient portal use by different patient characteristics, including education, race/ethnicity, sex, age, location (metro vs nonmetro/rural), insurance type, use of internet, and quality of care.
Author(s): Akira Nishii, Celeste Campos-Castillo, Denise Anthony
Citation: JAMIA Open, 5(4)
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Medicare Beneficiaries' Use of Audio-Only Health Care Services
Describes the use of audio-only telehealth services among Medicare beneficiaries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents data on the use of telehealth by age, number of chronic conditions, service type and modality, race and ethnicity, urbanicity, and outpatient facility provider type.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Improving Rural Health Through Telehealth-Guided Provider-to-Provider Communication
Presents the results of a comprehensive literature review to identify, summarize, and evaluate available research on the contributions of rural provider-to-provider telehealth communication and collaboration in addressing health disparities, and improving the health of rural populations. Topics cover the specific applications, effectiveness, implementation, sustainability, and barriers and facilitators of provider-to-provider telehealth in rural areas.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Full Report, Telehealth's Potential To Benefit Rural Healthcare Delivery: Infographic 1, Telehealth's Potential To Benefit Rural Healthcare Delivery: Infographic 2
Author(s): Annette Totten, Dana M. Womack, Marian S. McDonagh, et al.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Improving Rural Health Through Telehealth-Guided Provider-to-Provider Communication
Examines the effectiveness of rural provider-to-provider collaboration through the use of telehealth based on a systematic review of rural provider-to-provider telehealth (RPPT), and the results of a workshop of rural health experts. Discusses uptake of different types of telehealth, benefits of provider-to-provider telehealth for rural patients, barriers and facilitators to implementation and sustainability, and limitations of studies examining rural telehealth.
Author(s): Mary Wakefield, Jayashri Sankaranarayanan, Joanne Mather Conroy, et al.
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 2022
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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2022 Communications Marketplace Report
Examines the state of competition across the broader communications marketplace, as well as laws, regulations, regulatory practices, or marketplace practices that pose a barrier to competitive entry and expansion of the marketplace. Identifies an emerging set of issues and opportunities presented by changes made in response to COVID-19. Includes data on tribal and rural areas throughout, including trends in broadband adoption and the percentage of households with multiple provider options between 2018-2021.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Disparities in Virtual Cardiology Visits Among Veterans Health Administration Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents the results of a study to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic, during the first year, influenced the digital divide for patients using virtual and video-based care in Veterans Health Administration (VA) cardiology clinics across the U.S. Study examined sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, drive time to care, geographic location – rural and urban – and encounter type to determine changes in access to care by video, phone, and face-to-face.
Author(s): Rebecca L Tisdale, Jacqueline Ferguson, James Van Campen, et al.
Citation: JAMIA Open, 5(4)
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Comparison of In-Person vs. Telebehavioral Health Outcomes from Rural Populations Across America
Examines the efficacy of 2 federal behavioral health grant programs in reducing depression and anxiety in patients, comparing telehealth and in-person modalities in rural areas. Analyzes data from 1,514 patients participating in grant programs between 2017 and 2021 and their associated behavioral health modality. Includes demographic breakdowns by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance status.
Author(s): Carly McCord, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A. S. Merchant, et al.
Citation: BMC Psychiatry, 22, 778
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Financial Impact of Telehealth: Rural Chief Financial Officer Perspectives
Explores how rural chief financial officers (CFOs) and hospital administrators perceive the financial impacts of telehealth in their facilities. Analyzes 30 interview responses from CFOs and administrators between October 2021 and January 2022 about the perceived benefits and challenges of telehealth programs. Discusses opportunities to improve telehealth infrastructure to make the modality more cost effective for hospitals.
Author(s): Lori Uscher-Pines, Jessica L. Sousa, Kori S. Zachrison, Lee Schwamm, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 28(12), e436-e443
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 4/22/2024