|
|
| |
| Telehealth in Rural Communities |
Kevin K. Derrickson, BSN, RN and Dr. Bruce Lazar, MBA, DM
|
Abstract:
The use of telehealth by healthcare employees provides an alternate method for healthcare administrators to address the disparities faced by African Americans in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth by healthcare employees provided for improved patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction with their care providers. The systematic review aimed to determine whether telehealth among hospital employees providing services to rural African American patients during the COVID-19 pandemic increases access to services and improves patient outcomes. A search of the literature transpired using CINHAL and EBSCOhost following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data from 20 relevant articles were thematically analyzed using a screening process of constant comparing of notes from two reviewers, using a final consensus, and categorizing statements that related directly to our research question: does the use of telehealth among hospital employees providing services to rural African American patients during the COVID-19 pandemic increase access to services and improve patient outcomes? Seven themes emerged from the literature review during the data analysis process. The themes included living in rural areas increase the risk for healthcare disparity (30%), rural African Americans are at greater risk (25%), enabling healthcare workers is a necessary component of telehealth effectiveness (35%), hospital workers using telehealth improves the care delivery of healthcare workers to rural populations (25%), during COVID-19, access to care among rural communities improved by using telehealth 30%, during COVID-19, access to care among rural populations improved access to care across the spectrum of healthcare provided services by using telehealth (35%), and an increase in satisfaction among patient for the effectiveness of telehealth in managing their health (10%). The findings indicate that the use of telehealth by hospital employees does increase access to healthcare services for African Americans living in rural communities. The results demonstrated improved outcomes and satisfaction for patients able to receive healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications of these findings provide healthcare leaders with insight into hospital workers' ability to use telehealth to address the disparities of African Americans in rural communities improve access and outcomes for this population.
|
|
|
| | |