Editorial
Expanding Telehealth Capacity during COVID-19 May Have Long-Term Benefits for Rural Health Centers
Abstract
Evidence suggests that the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could have a disproportionate impact on rural areas; rural populations tend to be older, have more chronic health conditions, and have a weaker healthcare infrastructure than urban places.1 An unintended consequence of the novel coronavirus pandemic may be a rapid scale-up of telehealth in rural areas.2 Expanding telehealth in rural areas could have positive long-term effects beyond COVID-19, including assisting with chronic disease prevention and management efforts.This content is limited to qualifying members.
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References
1. Monnat S. Why Coronavirus Could Hit Rural Areas Harder. Syracuse, NY:Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Syracuse University;2020.
2. Nagata JM. Rapid scale-up of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for subspecialty care in rural areas. J Rural Health 2020; doi: 10.1111/jrh.12433.
3. Kaushal M, Patel K, Darling M, et al. Closing the rural health connectivity gap: how broadband funding can better improve care. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20150401.045856/full. Published April 1, 2015. Accessed May 23, 2020.
4. BroadbandNow. Broadband Internet in South Carolina. Internet access in South Carolina. https://broadbandnow.com/South-Carolina. Updated February 6, 2020. Accessed April 4, 2020.
