Barriers to Healthcare Across Rural Communities-Testing Telehealth as an Alternative Model of Healthcare Service Delivery

Abstract

Healthcare consumers from rural areas in the United States have inadequate access to healthcare due to a lack of providers, ineffective healthcare networks, and impaired healthcare delivery models. Further, low income, insurance coverage, and transportation are significant challenges limiting rural healthcare consumers’ access to healthcare. Therefore, preventable hospitalizations are more common in rural areas. As a result, healthcare access in rural areas has become a pressing issue for healthcare leaders and the government. Therefore, the author would like to conduct a literature review to assess the barriers in rural areas and establish the framework for a pilot study to propose telehealth as an alternative healthcare service delivery model to improve healthcare accessibility and health promotion.