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Telemedicine, rural elderly, and policy issues.
R T Goins1, U Kategile, K C Dudley
1West Virginia University, Center on Aging, Department of Community Medicine, P.O. Box 9127, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. rtg@wvu.edu
Journal of Aging & Social Policy
|November 7, 2002
Summary
Telemedicine can improve rural healthcare access for the elderly by overcoming specialist shortages and resource limitations. However, realizing its full potential requires addressing reimbursement, liability, and infrastructure challenges.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Rural Health
- Geriatric Care
Background:
- Rural America faces significant challenges in healthcare delivery, especially for the elderly.
- Shortages of specialists, inadequate equipment, and limited resources plague rural healthcare facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review innovative telemedicine projects serving the elderly in rural areas.
- To discuss critical issues hindering the widespread adoption of telemedicine for rural elderly care.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing telemedicine projects for the elderly.
- Analysis of key barriers to telemedicine implementation in rural settings.
Main Results:
- Telemedicine shows promise in addressing rural healthcare disparities for the elderly.
- Identified barriers include reimbursement policies, liability concerns, patient confidentiality, and infrastructure requirements.
Conclusions:
- Telemedicine offers substantial potential to improve care for frail, isolated elderly individuals in rural communities.
- Comprehensive policies, ethical guidelines, security measures, and robust infrastructure are essential for successful telemedicine integration.