Articles

Rural emergency systems face critical gaps in triage, specialty access, and transport decision-making that put patients at risk. This article outlines 11 proven telehealth models — from EMS-based consults to virtual ED coverage — that stabilize care at every stage and align directly with CMS’s RHTP priorities.

Improving access to hospital care is at the heart of the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program, yet rural hospitals often lack the workforce or specialty coverage to admit, treat, and safely transition patients. This first article highlights 13 proven telehealth-enabled solutions across inpatient, acute, and post-acute care that strengthen local capacity, reduce transfers, and keep rural hospitals viable.

Telehealth offers numerous benefits for rural hospitals, but there are also some pitfalls to consider.

This article highlights telehealth’s potential to im- prove access to specialists, enhance patient out- comes, and reduce unnecessary transfers.

Telemedicine is transforming rural healthcare by addressing workforce shortages, reducing patient transfers, and keeping local hospitals operational.

Discover how an innovative telemedicine model not only enhances patient outcomes but also improves family satisfaction by bringing care closer to home.

Telehealth extends far beyond outpatient visits to transform acute care delivery through applications like TeleStroke, TeleICU, virtual rounding, and remote patient monitoring.

These in-hospital telehealth solutions enhance emergency department capacity, provide 24/7 specialty access, and enable safer patient care during critical situations.

Remote patient monitoring for post-discharge care delivers exceptional ROI by preventing costly readmissions, with some programs showing 13:1 returns and over $250K annual savings.

This approach combines vital sign monitoring, video consultations, and nursing home connectivity to ensure seamless care transitions and reduce hospital readmissions.