Today is National Rural Health Day. And, in fewer than 30 days (December 15), NTCA’s Foundation for Rural Service and Smart Rural Community will host a rural telehealth seminar that will feature a deep dive into rural health issues as well as an opportunity for participants to test-drive telehealth devices. “Rural Health at a Digital Crossroads: Improving Care with Telehealth” will feature academics from the University of Virginia and the University of Southern Maine who will address public health issues and the role of broadband; tech developers who will demonstrate technical solutions; and NTCA’s own IT experts who will discuss network security issues implicated by telehealth.
The conversation could not be more timely or necessary. Telehealth promises beneficial results for rural America. Residents of rural areas experience greater incidences of chronic and other conditions as compared to their urban counterparts. When combined with distance from or lack of access to physicians and health care facilities and prevailing socioeconomic challenges, obstacles to the acquisition of affordable health care arise. Broadband-enabled applications can shatter these barriers and result in improved healthcare at lower costs, benefiting rural users while lowering national healthcare costs.
Data from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and a review by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that more than 20 percent of the U.S. population has at least two chronic conditions; rural areas are home to about 20 percent of the U.S. population but are on average poorer, older and residents have higher dependency rates than urban areas. Rural poverty increases the risk of complications from chronic conditions and decreases the likelihood of health insurance that can enable consistent treatment and preventative care. NRHA and CDC data illustrate the need for attention to rural health. Increased incidences of medical conditions in rural areas include: diabetes (17 percent higher), hypertension, obesity (in women, 23 percent vs. 16 percent in large metro areas), cancer, edentulism ((total tooth loss) among persons 65 and older, and injury. Higher rates of high-risk behaviors including smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet and limited use of seatbelts are also present in rural areas.
Consumer expectations and health reform are driving a new market shaped by trends in healthcare workforce shortages, chronic diseases and aging. Policies addressing connectivity, performance and payment warrant attention as emerging technology and evolving public perceptions affect market demands. Surveys conducted in the past year revealed that 36 percent of Americans want access to a 24/7 medical advice line, and 26 percent want the ability to submit a photo of a condition or treatment and receive a phone or email consult. Support for telehealth is evident among the medical community, as well: 22 percent of surveyed physicians characterize telehealth as an important step to the reduce costs of healthcare; 39 percent state it is good for patients; and 42 percent agree that telehealth is an important evolution in the practice of medicine.
These perceptions can information rural health challenges that are compounded by physician shortages and lack of access to nearby health care facilities. Although 25 percent of the U.S. population resides in rural areas, NRHA reports that only 10 percent of the nation’s physicians are in rural America. And, rural areas have 70 percent fewer specialists per 100,000 people. Rural residents tend to travel further for medical care than urban counterparts. Telehealth offers opportunities for patients to interact with distant physicians, but without the need to travel hours for the appointment; telehealth offers the ability for patients to monitor their health and report such metrics as weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, or other vital information to their providers; telehealth can provide needed avenues for therapeutic (both physical and emotional) care; and, telehealth enables rural physicians to connect with distant specialists when necessary.
Telehealth also includes pharmaceutical opportunities. This article by Telepharm explains the critical role of rural pharmacies in assisting the delivery of medications and patient compliance.
As telehealth takes hold, many issues demand discussion. These include, but are not limited to: treatment of traumatic injuries; actual and avoided costs of deploying telehealth solutions; legal implications, including licensing, Medicare/Medicaid, HIPPA regulations and privacy; use and usefulness of “big data” obtained from a larger universe of connected patients; remote therapy for substance abuse, psychotherapy, and occupational, physical and speech therapy; access on Tribal lands; and pediatric care.
Please join us on December 15 as we continue this important discussion (for additional information about the event, please contact me at jseidemann@ntca.org).