Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare.
Rural Telehealth and Healthcare System Readiness Measurement Framework: Final Report
Presents a performance measurement framework to guide quality and performance improvement for healthcare services delivered via telehealth in rural areas in response to disasters. Covers five domains — access to care and technology; costs, business models, and logistics; experience; effectiveness; and equity — rural-specific measurement issues, and potential solutions. Includes recommendations for rural telehealth measurement for time-sensitive emergencies, public health emergencies, and disasters.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents a performance measurement framework to guide quality and performance improvement for healthcare services delivered via telehealth in rural areas in response to disasters. Covers five domains — access to care and technology; costs, business models, and logistics; experience; effectiveness; and equity — rural-specific measurement issues, and potential solutions. Includes recommendations for rural telehealth measurement for time-sensitive emergencies, public health emergencies, and disasters.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Using CPT Charges as an Economic Proxy for Telehealth and Non-telehealth Emergency Department Utilization
Explores the characteristics of a dataset comprising rural hospitals' reported Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and associated charges for a sample of telehealth and non-telehealth emergency department (ED) visits. Features statistics including number of ED cases and controls selected by diagnosis, and demographics on select ED samples with breakdowns by 4 CPT codes.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Knute D. Carter, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A. S. Merchant
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Explores the characteristics of a dataset comprising rural hospitals' reported Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and associated charges for a sample of telehealth and non-telehealth emergency department (ED) visits. Features statistics including number of ED cases and controls selected by diagnosis, and demographics on select ED samples with breakdowns by 4 CPT codes.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Knute D. Carter, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A. S. Merchant
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Supporting Telehealth and Technology-Assisted Services for People Who Use Drugs: A Resource Guide
Offers policy, training, and planning resources for Substance Use Disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Offers policy, training, and planning resources for Substance Use Disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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How States Use ARPA Funds to Support Telehealth, Technology and Data Infrastructure
Interactive map displaying how states used a one-time increase in the federal medical assistance program (FMAP) for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) through March 31, 2022, to support telehealth service delivery, technology-based innovations, and data infrastructure building opportunities.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Interactive map displaying how states used a one-time increase in the federal medical assistance program (FMAP) for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) through March 31, 2022, to support telehealth service delivery, technology-based innovations, and data infrastructure building opportunities.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Preparing Health Professions Students to Serve Southern Rural Communities in the Time of COVID-19 and Beyond: A Model for Interprofessional Online Telehealth Education
Describes a model for online telehealth interprofessional education (IPE) designed to meet the needs of rural communities in the South. Offers an overview of the program's design and implementation and highlights lessons learned related to training fundamentals, staffing and planning, faculty involvement, technology concerns, and Heath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, and more.
Author(s): Teri Browne, Selina H. McKinney, Lauren Duck, et al.
Citation: Southern Medical Journal, 114(10), 665-667
Date: 10/2021
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Describes a model for online telehealth interprofessional education (IPE) designed to meet the needs of rural communities in the South. Offers an overview of the program's design and implementation and highlights lessons learned related to training fundamentals, staffing and planning, faculty involvement, technology concerns, and Heath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, and more.
Author(s): Teri Browne, Selina H. McKinney, Lauren Duck, et al.
Citation: Southern Medical Journal, 114(10), 665-667
Date: 10/2021
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State of Telehealth: Removing Barriers to Access and Improving Patient Outcomes
Presents a recording of an October 7, 2021, hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband. Examines the importance of access to telehealth services, telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the pandemic on telehealth regulations, and the role of broadband access in the public health response. Features testimony from the American Academy of Family Physicians, Project ECHO, Avel eCare, and the Federal Communications Commission.
Additional links: American Academy of Family Physicians Testimony, Avel eCare Testimony, Federal Communications Commission Testimony, Project ECHO Testimony
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
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Presents a recording of an October 7, 2021, hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband. Examines the importance of access to telehealth services, telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the pandemic on telehealth regulations, and the role of broadband access in the public health response. Features testimony from the American Academy of Family Physicians, Project ECHO, Avel eCare, and the Federal Communications Commission.
Additional links: American Academy of Family Physicians Testimony, Avel eCare Testimony, Federal Communications Commission Testimony, Project ECHO Testimony
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
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Leveraging Quality Measurement to Improve Rural Health, Telehealth, and Healthcare System Readiness: Final Environmental Scan Report
Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Remote Patient Monitoring Helps Rural Patients Recover at Home
Features Essentia Health's remote patient monitoring program, which allows patients to recover at home while still having access to medical attention. Describes how the program was used to treat COVID-19 patients, with plans to continue the program to treat other chronic diseases.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features Essentia Health's remote patient monitoring program, which allows patients to recover at home while still having access to medical attention. Describes how the program was used to treat COVID-19 patients, with plans to continue the program to treat other chronic diseases.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
Evidence-based resource guide examining telehealth initiatives to treat serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) based on published research. Topics cover effectiveness of telehealth modalities, implementation of evidence-based practices, examples of telehealth treatment programs, and evaluation resources. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout the guide.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Evidence-based resource guide examining telehealth initiatives to treat serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) based on published research. Topics cover effectiveness of telehealth modalities, implementation of evidence-based practices, examples of telehealth treatment programs, and evaluation resources. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout the guide.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Federally Qualified Health Center's Remote Patient Monitoring Tool Kit
Toolkit developed for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) implementing a remote patient monitoring program. Provides guidance for FQHCs and offers program considerations regarding administration, program sustainability, electronic health records (EHR) integration, communications, equipment, training, and examples of measurable outcomes for patients and providers.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Toolkit developed for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) implementing a remote patient monitoring program. Provides guidance for FQHCs and offers program considerations regarding administration, program sustainability, electronic health records (EHR) integration, communications, equipment, training, and examples of measurable outcomes for patients and providers.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Last Updated: 4/1/2025