July 26, 2017
Telehealth can be a virtual solution to reaching rural residents with healthcare, but its integration into mainstream medicine is taking longer than expected. Five leaders working to advance telehealth for rural areas articulate their thoughts on this delayed integration and the changes needed to make telehealth common practice.
July 26, 2017
William England, PhD, JD, Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, gives a history of telehealth and suggests viewing telehealth as a concept rather than a tool can ensure its future success.
July 26, 2017
Marcia M. Ward, PhD, Director of the Rural Telehealth Research Center, suggests that evaluation of telehealth as a business model proves its growth and contributes to its evidence base.
July 26, 2017
Mario Gutierrez, MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy's National Telehealth Policy Resource Center, discusses the important role telehealth plays for rural patients in delivering healthcare directly to their homes and communities.
July 26, 2017
Kristi Henderson, DNP, CFNP, CACNP, FAEN, Vice President of Innovation and Virtual Care at Ascension's Texas Ministry, outlines three challenges hindering telehealth's growth: outdated reimbursement models, policies and regulations, and the complexity surrounding telehealth integration.
July 26, 2017
Gary Capistrant, MPA, Chief Policy Officer of the American Telemedicine Association, explains potential federal changes, the possibility of a national telehealth network, and collaboration between healthcare providers may be keys to telehealth's success.
May 31, 2017
Public agencies and private non-profit groups have mutual interests in improving the health of rural Americans. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and philanthropy organizations worked together to create a unique funding opportunity, the Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Program. Two health care organizations and their philanthropy partners share how coordinated efforts benefit patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
April 5, 2017
In July 17, 2015, a drone delivered medicine to the RAM – Wise Health Expedition, an outreach event in Wise County, VA. This historic flight may lead to other applications of drones in rural health, such as search and rescue, mosquito spraying, and more deliveries of needed supplies.
March 1, 2017
Nearly 1 in 5 American adults have a diagnosable mental or behavioral disorder. By supporting 16 nonprofit agencies, the Vermont Care Network facilitates the provision of services for this population. Nearly 50,000 Vermont residents have access to behavioral health and developmental disability services through their efforts.
November 30, 2016
First conceptualized in the 1970s, but not widely adopted in rural communities, freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) have been getting another look as a sustainable rural option. This article discusses hospital-based versus independent FSEDs, the model's financial viability, and highlights two FSEDs meeting their communities' healthcare needs in Arizona and Illinois.
