Implementation of Telehealth Services in Rural Schools: A Qualitative Assessment

Area of Science:

• Rural health
• School-based health services
• Telehealth implementation

Background:

• Rural areas face health professional shortages, creating service gaps for students.
• Telehealth presents a solution for meeting student health needs in underserved areas.
• Limited research exists on telehealth implementation within rural school settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore facilitators and barriers in implementing rural school telehealth programs.
• To identify strategies for successful telehealth program adoption in schools.
• To inform future school-based telehealth initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 50 key informants.
• Focused on individuals involved in the School-Based Telehealth Network Grant Program.
• Utilized thematic analysis of interview transcripts for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Common barriers included technology access, service reimbursement, and stakeholder acceptance.
• Strategies for success involved technology training, support, marketing, and school process integration.
• Key informants highlighted the need for buy-in from school staff, clinicians, parents, and students.

Conclusions:

• School-based telehealth can enhance clinical capacity in areas with shortages.
• Engaging the school community is crucial for successful telehealth implementation.
• Reimbursement by Medicaid and private insurers is essential for sustaining rural school telehealth.