by MEREDITH BAUER, UF/IFAS
Getting to a specialist for a doctor’s appointment can be tough in the best of circumstances. But what if you live two hours away from the nearest one?
UF/IFAS is studying how telehealth can expand healthcare access in rural communities, especially when it comes to medical specialist appointments. A recent study by UF/IFAS Family, Youth and Community Sciences assistant professor Melissa Vilaro showed that patients managing Type 2 diabetes in rural counties had successful and positive experiences using telehealth.
For the study, patients were seen by a UF endocrinology office, and more than half had never used telehealth. Participants used kiosks in Hamilton, Bradford, Dixie and Lafayette counties.
With funding from the UF Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and using telehealth kiosks established at some UF/IFAS Extension offices via a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture pilot program grant, the study looked at how patients in rural counties perceived telehealth care, which is being eyed as a solution to bridge the gap in coverage in rural areas.
Forty-six million U.S. adults live in rural areas, and transportation is often cited as a common barrier to accessing healthcare – up to one-fifth of patients said transportation was the reason for not going to a scheduled doctor’s appointment, according to the study.
Vilaro, the principal investigator of the study published in mHealth, and her UF/IFAS colleagues, including associate professor LaToya O’Neal, collaborated with UF College of Medicine, working with UF medical researchers and physicians, including Dr. William Donahoo, chief of endocrinology at the UF College of Medicine.
Patients in the study saw nurse practitioners from UF endocrinology clinic for care with managing Type 2 diabetes. Prior to the study, they would typically drive up to two hours to visit the medical office but were able to complete appointments near their homes instead via telehealth.
“This is a newer technology. One of the concerns in the academic literature about telehealth is that people think they might not have as good of an experience because they aren’t there in person,” Vilaro said. “But once people actually experience telehealth, they have a good opinion of it.”
Many participants appreciated avoiding the travel burden that comes with specialist appointments, with some noting that the kiosks were just five minutes from their homes, yet they were still able to see their regular healthcare provider.
“This project is really about access and understanding how rural environments might benefit from emerging technologies like telehealth,” said Vilaro. “For many rural residents, the lack of reliable internet or the assumption that telehealth would provide a subpar experience has been a barrier. But once patients try it, the feedback is encouraging — they value the convenience and quality of care.”
— provided by UF/IFAS