Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare.
Telehealth and In-Person Behavioral Health Services in Rural Communities Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Multisite Prospective Cohort Study
Evaluated telehealth and in-person behavioral healthcare encounters in 95 rural communities before and during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to identify changes in healthcare delivery. Discusses specific diagnoses, type of healthcare service, and clinician type.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Fred Ullrich, Divya Bhagianadh, et al.
Citation: JMIR Mental Health, 10, e47047
Date: 2023
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Evaluated telehealth and in-person behavioral healthcare encounters in 95 rural communities before and during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to identify changes in healthcare delivery. Discusses specific diagnoses, type of healthcare service, and clinician type.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Fred Ullrich, Divya Bhagianadh, et al.
Citation: JMIR Mental Health, 10, e47047
Date: 2023
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Telehealth in Rural Integrated Care Webinar Series
A 3-part webinar series on telehealth in rural integrated care. Part 1 discusses general issues and opportunities for telehealth in decreasing health disparities. Part 2 focuses on the unique challenges for rural children and rural schools. Part 3 focuses on the unique challenges for rural migrant workers and farmworkers.
Additional links: Part 2, Part 3
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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A 3-part webinar series on telehealth in rural integrated care. Part 1 discusses general issues and opportunities for telehealth in decreasing health disparities. Part 2 focuses on the unique challenges for rural children and rural schools. Part 3 focuses on the unique challenges for rural migrant workers and farmworkers.
Additional links: Part 2, Part 3
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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School-Based Telehealth Playbook
Guides health centers through the design, implementation, and operation of a telehealth program that meets the needs of children and adolescents. Covers assessing needs and readiness, program models, business models, technology and equipment, program evaluation, partnerships, and implementation. Highlights examples from rural areas throughout.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: School-Based Health Alliance
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Guides health centers through the design, implementation, and operation of a telehealth program that meets the needs of children and adolescents. Covers assessing needs and readiness, program models, business models, technology and equipment, program evaluation, partnerships, and implementation. Highlights examples from rural areas throughout.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: School-Based Health Alliance
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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
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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, and insurance status, among other measures.
Author(s): Carly McCord, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, et al.
Citation: BMC Psychiatry, 22, 778
Date: 12/2022
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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, and insurance status, among other measures.
Author(s): Carly McCord, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, et al.
Citation: BMC Psychiatry, 22, 778
Date: 12/2022
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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
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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
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Before and During Pandemic Telemedicine Use: An Analysis of Rural and Urban Safety-Net Clinics
Investigates telemedicine use for primary care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes electronic health record data to analyze 1,015,722 patients seen in 466 different safety-net clinics. Includes on patients by demographic characteristics; chronic disease status; and urban, large rural, small rural, or isolated rural residence.
Author(s): Annie E. Larson, Whitney E. Zahnd, Melinda M. Davis, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 63(6), 1031-1036
Date: 12/2022
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Investigates telemedicine use for primary care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes electronic health record data to analyze 1,015,722 patients seen in 466 different safety-net clinics. Includes on patients by demographic characteristics; chronic disease status; and urban, large rural, small rural, or isolated rural residence.
Author(s): Annie E. Larson, Whitney E. Zahnd, Melinda M. Davis, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 63(6), 1031-1036
Date: 12/2022
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Contraceptive Care Service Provision via Telehealth Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic at Rural and Urban Federally Qualified Health Centers in 2 Southeastern States
Explores a study on the use of telehealth by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide contraceptive services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama and South Carolina. Breaks down data by clinic accessibility and services offered, type of contraceptives provided, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): Kate Beatty, Michael G. Smith, Amal J. Khoury, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 160-171
Date: 12/2022
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Explores a study on the use of telehealth by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide contraceptive services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama and South Carolina. Breaks down data by clinic accessibility and services offered, type of contraceptives provided, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): Kate Beatty, Michael G. Smith, Amal J. Khoury, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 160-171
Date: 12/2022
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Last Updated: 1/22/2026

