Rural communities have a hard time getting specialty healthcare because there are not enough doctors. The National Rural Health Association says rural areas have 68 doctors for every 100,000 people. Urban areas have more, with 80 doctors for every 100,000 people. Because of this, patients in rural places often need to travel far to see specialists. This can cause delays, worse health problems, and higher costs.
Transportation is also a problem in rural areas. There are fewer buses or trains, and many people face poverty and unemployment. This makes it harder for them to pay for travel or medical services. So, many people in these areas miss out on care.
People in some city neighborhoods have trouble getting specialty care too. Older adults, homeless people, and disabled individuals may not have good transportation, internet access, or health insurance. Crowded health centers add to the problem. These factors make it hard for them to get the care they need.
When rural hospitals close, the problem grows worse. These closures create areas where no health services are nearby and hurt local jobs. Without hospitals, it is hard to keep doctors in these communities. Telehealth can help by letting patients get care remotely. This lowers the need to travel to faraway hospitals.
Telehealth helps patients connect with specialty doctors without traveling long distances. The American Hospital Association says telehealth makes more providers available and helps make care fairer.
This is useful for rural hospitals trying to keep their patients. Instead of sending patients to cities, telehealth lets specialists help from the hospital itself. This keeps care going smoothly for patients and their families.
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program began in 2021 to improve internet in rural areas. Good internet is needed for telehealth visits to work well. Medical staff need to know about these programs and push for better local internet.
The California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC) supports telehealth for free. They offer tools and teach about keeping programs running, choosing equipment, billing, and rules. CTRC works especially with older adults, disabled patients, homeless people, and rural communities to help them use telehealth.
CTRC also holds live events and online workshops where healthcare workers learn telehealth skills. These include fixing technical problems and learning about billing. Ongoing education helps medical practices use telehealth well in their work.
Besides where people live, money and social factors make it harder to get specialty care. Poverty, unemployment, and weak schools in rural and poor urban areas limit access to transport, technology, and health knowledge.
Things like income, education, and housing affect health, especially for vulnerable groups. Studies in heart care show new technologies can improve health but might also increase gaps unless social issues are addressed. Nonmedical problems can delay diagnosis and treatment, hurting health.
Healthcare leaders must see that telehealth alone cannot fix all problems. It is one part of a larger plan to reduce gaps. Working with communities, using cultural understanding, and teaming up with social services helps meet patients’ needs better.
Local projects with residents and leaders have worked well to fit telehealth to specific places. Data helps find missing services and improve them. For example, using data about location and demographics can help refer patients to telehealth specialists and lower missed appointments.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation help make telehealth work better. These tools reduce paperwork, organize workflows, and improve patient experience.
In rural or underserved areas where staff are fewer, AI helps extend specialist care without making more work for office staff. This is important as telehealth grows with new insurance rules.
The CTRC serves as a federally designated telehealth resource center, offering unbiased, no-cost tools and services based on proven digital health practices to support telehealth providers and patients in California.
The CTRC addresses the challenge of access to specialty care in California by providing resources and support to expand digital health services, facilitating connections between patients and specialty providers.
The CTRC provides a comprehensive library of resources, including sustainability calculators and equipment selection tools, to help telehealth programs grow and thrive, especially in underinvested areas.
The CTRC hosts virtual and in-person events, including trainings and workshops, aimed at keeping healthcare professionals updated on telehealth insights and advances.
The American Relief Act of 2025 helps maintain Medicare coverage for telehealth services, ensuring continued access and flexibility in telehealth practices across the U.S.
AI is expected to play a crucial role in scaling telehealth solutions, improving efficiency, and enhancing patient outcomes, as discussed in policy considerations and upcoming legislation.
California faces geographical and socioeconomic challenges in accessing healthcare, particularly specialty care, which the CTRC aims to mitigate through digital health solutions.
The CTRC includes specialized expertise in supporting diverse patient populations, such as older adults and those experiencing homelessness, to ensure equitable access to telehealth.
CTRC’s resources include a digital health payment guide, online courses, and a telehealth course finder, designed to educate providers and enhance telehealth practices.
Organizations can obtain guidance on clinical connections, billing questions, regulations, and technical support, helping them navigate telehealth complexities effectively.
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