Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – Models and Innovations

These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas and provide lessons others have learned. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.

Other Project Examples

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health TeleSANE Center

Updated/reviewed June 2024

• Need: Clinicians in rural and underserved areas are often unprepared to provide comprehensive medical-forensic examinations for patients who present for care following a sexual assault.
• Intervention: The MDPH TeleSANE Center uses secure telehealth software to connect sexual assault nurse examiners to clinicians and patients in hospitals across Massachusetts — including four in rural counties — offering expert clinical guidance and support before, during, and after examinations.
• Results: Clinicians report that the service gives them increased confidence throughout the examination process. To date, the MDPH TeleSANE Center has assisted in the care of over 960 patients.

Auburn University Rural Health Initiative

Added May 2024

• Need: To expand healthcare access in rural Alabama communities.
• Intervention: The Auburn University Rural Health Initiative is working with communities across Alabama to develop a healthcare model that includes primary care, substance use disorder treatment and mental health treatment via state-of-the-art telehealth technologies, coupled with health and wellness programs and services provided by faculty and students.
• Results: The first telehealth care station, located in LaFayette, Alabama, began offering services in April 2023. Within the first year after opening, clinicians in the telehealth station conducted 592 patient consultations and issued 720 prescriptions.

Queen Anne's County Mobile Integrated Community Health (MICH) Program

Updated/reviewed April 2024

• Need: To connect patients to resources in order to reduce use of emergency services, emergency department visits, and hospital readmissions.
• Intervention: Patients receive support (by in-person visit, phone call, or telehealth visit) from a paramedic, community health nurse, peer recovery specialist, and pharmacist.
• Results: Between July 2016 and March 2024, the program made 1,098 patient contacts and continued to see a reduction in emergency department and inpatient visits and costs.

SCDMH Emergency Department and Community Telepsychiatry Programs

Updated/reviewed March 2024

• Need: To expand access to psychiatric services throughout South Carolina, with a focus on underserved and rural communities.
• Intervention: South Carolina Department of Mental Health (SCDMH) created the SCDMH Emergency Department and Community Telepsychiatry programs to expand telepsychiatry access for patients in emergency departments and in various settings across the state.
• Results: The program has improved access, affordability, and provided quality care for patients with mental illness living in rural and underserved areas of South Carolina.

ROAMS (Rural OB Access & Maternal Service)

Added February 2024

• Need: To improve maternal health in northeastern New Mexico.
• Intervention: The Rural OB Access & Maternal Service program provides obstetric and maternal fetal medicine telehealth, home telehealth kits, and free access to lactation consultants and family navigators.
• Results: ROAMS has worked with 1,500 unique individuals since July 2021.

HCC of Lafayette County's Heath Information Technology Workgroup

Updated/reviewed December 2023

• Need: To ensure the quality and sustainability of rural West Central Missouri's health services through the use of technology.
• Intervention: The Health Care Coalition of Lafayette County convened a Health Information Technology (HIT) workgroup to establish electronic medical and prescription records, telemedicine capabilities, and training for Lafayette County and surrounding areas.
• Results: The workgroup fully equipped a local emergency department with HIT, launched electronic prescriptions for nearly a dozen Lafayette County providers, and identified acute needs hindering the adoption of electronic health records.

ADPH Telehealth Program

Updated/reviewed September 2023

• Need: To increase access to healthcare throughout Alabama.
• Intervention: The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has created telehealth communications at county health departments.
• Results: ADPH telehealth services are currently available in 66 of 67 county health departments.

HIV Telehealth Collaborative Care (HIV TCC) Program

Updated/reviewed September 2023

• Need: To increase access to specialty care for rural veterans living with HIV.
• Intervention: The HIV Telehealth Collaborative Care (TCC) study connects these patients with HIV specialists via clinical video telehealth or VA video connect and works to create shared care relationships with primary care teams in rural areas.
• Results: The HIV TCC program provides HIV specialty care access to rural veterans in a sustainable manner with infrastructure, mentorship, and capacity building.

Mobile Health Units for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Updated/reviewed August 2023

• Need: To bring medication-assisted treatment to rural and underserved areas in Colorado.
• Intervention: Six mobile health units travel to 32 counties and offer services like telehealth sessions, counseling, naloxone, and referrals to wraparound services.
• Results: The units traveled more than 100,000 miles from January 2020 to January 2021.

Health-e-Schools

Updated/reviewed October 2022

• Need: Rural school children lack proper healthcare resources within the school setting.
• Intervention: Health-e-Schools provides health services to students via telehealth using video conferencing and special equipment.
• Results: Health-e-Schools increases access to primary healthcare, increases attendance in the classroom, and decreases the amount of time that parents or guardians must take off of work to bring their child to health-related appointments.

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