Rural telemedicine: a national snapshot

To estimate the use of telemedicine in rural hospitals in the U.S. and to identify and describe those rural hospitals that are active in telemedicine.

Nationwide mailed survey, with telephone follow-up, to all hospitals not located in a Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The overall response rate was 95% of all rural hospitals. Of these, 416 (17.55%) reported having telemedicine, and more than 530 more have plans to begin telemedicine programs during the next few years. Rural hospitals of all sizes and in all regions of the country are initiating telemedicine programs, but there is significant variation by region. Specifically, hospitals located in more populous rural counties near metropolitan areas are less likely to have telemedicine than are hospitals located in less populous rural counties in more remote areas. Conservatively, more than 4000 teleconsults per month are estimated among rural hospitals nationwide in 1995, including all forms of telemedicine.

Telemedicine is becoming an important means of providing specialty medical services in rural areas. This screening survey generated information about the extent of telemedicine use in rural communities, but it also raised many new questions. These questions are being pursued through a detailed follow-up survey.