ISCAP Proceedings: Abstract Presentation
Use of Telemedicine to Reduce Healthcare Disparities in Rural Areas: A Systematic Literature Review
Norah Milam
University of Utah
Sankara Subramanian Srinivasan
University of Utah
Abstract
Telemedicine holds a lot of promise to bridge disparities in access to health care in rural areas. In this work, we discuss the reasons for those disparities and the role that technological, regulatory, and social factors play in influencing the adoption of telemedicine and its effectiveness. We also present the findings from a systematic literature review that was undertaken to understand the utilization and effectiveness of telemedicine for rural patient populations in the United States. Building on the findings of the review, we present our recommendations to further enhance the effectiveness of telemedicine and also directions for future researchers to further our understanding of ways to improve healthcare outcomes while preserving patient privacy.