Perceptions of the Benefits of Telemedicine in Rural Communities

Andrew J Potter; Marcia M Ward; Nabil Natafgi; Fred Ullrich; A Clinton MacKinney; Amanda L Bell; Keith J Mueller

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Perceptions of the Benefits of Telemedicine in Rural Communities

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Perceptions of the Benefits of Telemedicine in Rural Communities

Andrew J Potter, Marcia M Ward, Nabil Natafgi, Fred Ullrich, A Clinton MacKinney, Amanda L Bell and Keith J Mueller

Perspectives in health information management, Vol.Summer 2016

07/01/2016

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https://web.archive.org/web/20200726071636/http://perspectives.ahima.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PerceptionsofTelemedicine.pdfView

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Abstract

Telemedicine is a means of improving care quality and access in rural areas, but limited evidence is available on how telemedicine affects the hospital-community relationship. We examined hospital staff perceptions about the ways in which rural communities benefited from the implementation of telemedicine offered by a hub facility. We fielded 405 surveys from 84 hospitals and conducted interviews with 81 clinicians and administrators at 26 hospitals. Survey respondents had positive perceptions about the benefit of tele-emergency services to rural communities, but this finding was less true of tele-pharmacy. Interviewees described how telemedicine enhanced rural hospitals' reputation for high-quality care, how community members benefited from being close to their support networks, and how word of positive patient experiences increased community awareness of hospital services. Telemedicine services may change rural communities' perceptions of local hospitals, reduce patient bypass, facilitate rural hospitals' participation in innovative care models, and solidify rural hospitals' role.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Perceptions of the Benefits of Telemedicine in Rural Communities
Creators: Andrew J Potter
Marcia M Ward
Nabil Natafgi
Fred Ullrich
A Clinton MacKinney
Amanda L Bell
Keith J Mueller
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Perspectives in health information management, Vol.Summer 2016
ISSN: 1559-4122
eISSN: 1559-4122
Publisher: American Health Information Management Association
Number of pages: 13 pages
Grant note: This research was funded by a grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (grant no. 2010PG-RHC032)
Language: English
Date published: 07/01/2016
Academic Unit: Rural Telehealth Research Center; Health Management and Policy; Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9984221751002771

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