10 Benefits of Telehealth in Rural Areas

TLDR; Telehealth is decreasing wait times and improving patient care in rural areas, while saving healthcare facilities’ critical resources and helping them to recruit and retain qualified physicians.

Telehealth is transforming how rural communities access preventative and specialty care. Across the U.S., rural regions have disproportionately lower access to healthcare, with longer wait times to see physicians and healthcare facilities located farther away from where they call home. Digital technologies are helping to bridge the distance on essential services for rural patients, supporting physicians, and providing relief to healthcare facilities that are over capacity.

But what is telehealth? The first thing to know is that this term refers to technology for clinical health services delivered at a distance. But, it can also include forms of telemedicine and health information technology that make communicating with patients, diagnosing illnesses and providing health education easier. That means everything from AI scribes and ambient listening technologies to safe and secure digital storage for data covered by HIPPA. 

On an individual level, telehealth is making care more accessible for all– but today we’ll dig into the top 10 benefits for healthcare providers, physicians and rural patient communities.

Benefits of Telehealth in Rural Areas

• Decreased Patient Costs
• Wider Service Areas
• Lower Onsite Utilization
• More Physician Recruitment Opportunities
• Higher Job Satisfaction
• Increased Patient Satisfaction
• More Access to Specialists
• Reduced Staff Workload
• Expanded Access to Grant Programs
• AI-Powered Scribes
• FAQs
• We’re Specialists in Rural Healthcare Recruiting
  

How Does Telehealth Benefit Rural Areas?

Over the past decade, rural communities have been seriously impacted by hospital consolidation, and physician and staff shortages. With fewer facilities serving larger populations who are aging, the strain on the healthcare system has never been greater. Telehealth has emerged as a critical solution to extending care to underserved areas and resourcing care in areas where physician recruitment and retention remain challenging. 

1. Decreased Patient Costs

There’s no doubt about it, in a time when purse strings are tighter, telehealth saves patients money. For rural communities, traveling to seek care places a burden on both their time and their wallets. According to a study of cancer patients published in JAMA, telehealth saved patients as much as between $147 and $186 per visit on average. Telehealth also cuts the lengthy commute to a healthcare facility out of the equation, saving patients’ money on childcare and transportation costs while also ensuring they don’t lose out on wages from having to take time off work. 

2. Wider Service Areas

The ability to provide care in areas outside a facility’s physical reach via broadband internet means more patients have access to the proactive care they need. Telehealth allows facilities to broaden their reach without spreading their resources too thin.

3. Lower Onsite Utilization

Many healthcare facilities are currently working at capacity and looking to control costs in resources and time. In-person care is essential, and by integrating telehealth into their existing systems they’re able to use their resources more efficiently while providing expanded care for patients. For instance, telehealth utilization within mental health services remains quite high even after COVID, with 30-40% of visits being conducted via telehealth according to one study. For an area of medicine that often faces resource shortages, the ability to conduct follow up and other appointments off-site has a positive impact for all patients.

4. More Physician Recruitment Opportunities

In a healthcare system where the physician shortage is deeply impacting health outcomes, telehealth is making physicians' workloads more manageable. Sometimes patients simply need an e-visit or a phone call with a physician rather than a full appointment. By providing telehealth support, facilities can ensure physicians have more time to focus on in-person visits and maintaining continuity of care. Telehealth can also improve recruitment and retention outcomes. Building in digital infrastructure helps to keep physicians from experiencing burnout, meaning that facilities are able to retain their current staff and attract qualified physicians who have experience with telehealth practice.

5. Higher Job Satisfaction

Physicians who are able to use telehealth services to provide care for patients in underserved communities report higher job satisfaction. In one survey from Doctor on Demand, 78% of physicians reported a better work-life balance thanks to telehealth. So not only do doctors see a tangible difference in the lives of their patients, but their workload becomes more manageable when they're offered more flexible options. 

6. Increased Patient Satisfaction

Patients are able to access care they might previously have had to drive a long way to obtain or put off preventative appointments until their health worsened. While patients often like to have their first visit in-person, studies show that patients who use telehealth for follow-ups and post-operative care find virtual care to be even more satisfying than traditional visits.

7. More Access to Specialists

As specialist care concentrates further in metropolitan areas, telehealth is opening up pathways for patients to get the appointments for specialized care they need. Telehealth has increased access to specialist providers in areas such as HIV treatment and oncology. By providing online appointments and empowering physicians with new support technologies, facilities are helping to make specialists’ workloads more manageable– preventing burnout while ensuring continuity of care.

8. Reduced Staff Workload

Making healthcare workflows more efficient means that staff in healthcare facilities can concentrate their in-office resources on providing top notch administrative, logistical and direct care. The preparation of rooms between visits, combined with the logistics of signing patients in, taking their vitals, and coordinating room openings all require resources from a wide range of staff, including healthcare providers. Telehealth ensures that nurses and staff spend less time preparing and cleaning and allows hospitals to dedicate more resources to patient care. And as we all know, burnout protection for staff is a proactive, strategic solution to head potential staff shortages off at the pass.

9. Expanded Access to Grant Programs

Telehealth has opened up a new world of funding possibilities for healthcare facilities, particularly within federal grant and loan systems. These federal supports were designed to provide assistance for programming and implementation that expands the reach of existing healthcare systems in rural areas to improve care for everyone. 

The top financial programs and grants of note for healthcare facilities are:

USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program - With funds ranging from between $50,000 to $1 million dollars, this program aims to improve teleconnectivity in communities of rural residents with 20,000 people or fewer. Local governments, non-profits and for-profit organizations can apply for funding that updates broadband connectivity and implements telehealth programming. 

USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program - A system of low-interest-direct loans grants for varying amounts that provide funding to develop essential community services. Monies from this program can be used to build, buy, and improve facilities, as well as buy equipment and pay for projects. Priority for grants goes to communities with less than 5,500 people and communities that are 80% below the nonmetropolitan median household income. 

The FCC Rural Healthcare Telecommunications Program - These programs provide funding to health care providers for telecommunications support, primarily focused on expanding internet access. They include: the Healthcare Connect Fund, the Telecommunications Program, the Internet Access Program, and the Rural Health Care Pilot Program. Competition for these funds is high, because they are capped federal funding dollars allotted in annual budgets. 

HRSA Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program - This is an award program for healthcare networks seeking to increase access to care Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) through telehealth technologies. Applicants must demonstrate that their telehealth programing will enhance existing health care systems

10. AI-Powered Scribes

AI is changing the game for physicians by cutting down on administrative paperwork and automating the note-taking process. How does it work? By using ambient listening technology (with patient consent of course!) to create clear, precise and detailed clinical notes and/or post-visit instructions that help patients on their recovery journey. 

AI scribes are improving clinician-to-patient connection during in-person visits by automating administrative tasks. As a result, patients are more satisfied with the one-on-one care they receive from physicians, diagnostic accuracy improves and clinicians get to have the pajama time they need to rest.

FAQs about Telehealth in Rural Areas

What are the benefits of telehealth in underserved communities?

Improved access to care, decreased wait time, cost-savings, and better workplace flexibility to attract talented providers are critical benefits of telehealth for underserved communities.

What are the benefits of mobile health clinics in rural areas?

Mobile health clinics provide essential services such as vaccinations, annual exams and health education that communities may not have access to if they do not have a regional health care facility. 

What are the benefits of telehealth?

Overall, telehealth increases access to healthcare services, controls costs for both patients and facilities, and helps to recruit and retain physicians in rural areas.

Who benefits most from telehealth?

Patients receiving care that is otherwise unavailable in rural areas tend to be the first beneficiaries of telehealth services. Healthcare facilities and physicians also see crucial benefits such as increased physician retention rates and overall cost-savings. 

How to improve health in rural areas?

The key to improving health in rural areas is expanding access to proactive and preventative care. This is one crucial reason why telehealth has made a difference for rural communities. As hospital consolidation increases in rural areas, many rural people cannot access care without traveling long distances. Strengthening telehealth infrastructure is highly beneficial for improving health outcomes for rural people. 

We’re Specialists in Rural Healthcare Recruiting

Providing exceptional healthcare in rural areas is both challenging and rewarding. At Era, we specialize in helping facilities find top tier physicians by providing expert insights and concierge staffing solutions. Our team understands the nuances of rural recruitment because we’ve been there. Our experiences and expertise are informed by the knowledge that we’re not just filling a role, we’re helping facilities provide consistent, compassionate care for our communities.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you find your people.