MedCity News –“No other option”: Telehealth Could Be Rural Healthcare’s Savior
By Katie Adams
Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, says telehealth holds significant potential to save the future of rural healthcare. However, ongoing problems such as spotty broadband access, poor digital literacy and inadequate communication are preventing utilization from becoming widespread across rural communities.
During a Tuesday panel discussion at HHS’ National Telehealth Conference, Morgan called the fact that rural providers’ telehealth use lags far behind that of urban providers “beyond frustrating.” His organization has found that as rural providers implement telehealth services, many are struggling to address key questions about the patients they serve: Do they have broadband access? Do they know telehealth services are available to them? Do they know how to use the technology needed to virtually connect to their caregiver?