NTCA Report Highlights the Benefits of Extended Reality Telehealth for Rural Patients

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association’s Smart Communities program this week released a new report finding the use of innovative broadband-enabled telehealth applications represent a key pathway to improving medical access and patient outcomes in rural areas.

The report, Extended Reality Telehealth for Rural Spaces , outlines several use cases for extended reality (XR) telehealth technologies, including physical and occupational therapy, mental health therapy and elder and veterans care. The report, which also addresses potential barriers to adoption, includes case studies from NTCA members who have partnered with local schools, health clinics, community centers and assisted living facilities to address healthcare needs in their communities:

• Darien Telephone Company (Darien, Ga.) worked closely with Coastal Community Health and local leaders to establish the Tiger Clinic at a local public elementary school. The connected clinic enables any district child or teacher to obtain telehealth consultations, a critical service in a community that has no hospitals or large healthcare centers. 
• In Floyd, Va., Citizens Telephone Cooperative works with local health care systems to support outreach efforts at community centers, including providing training on computers and tablets to seniors and low-income users for healthcare applications. 
• Skyline Membership Corp. of West Jefferson, N.C., leveraged a grant to deploy a broadband-enabled surveillance solution at a not-for-profit assisted living facility.

“Two-thirds of health care provider shortages are in rural areas, forcing patients to travel farther for care or refrain from seeking care altogether,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “Broadband-enabled telehealth services provide a third option—to receive treatment at home or nearby. These technologies go far and beyond a traditional video consultation, incorporating extended reality, virtual reality and alternative reality applications, offering transformative solutions for care and providing an opportunity to close these gaps in access for patients and physicians in rural communities.”

The Smart Rural Community program is a network of more than 280 communities supported by NTCA member providers who are committed to driving growth through robust broadband service — and by the educators, health care providers, farmers, small business owners and others who help their communities thrive. Learn more at www.smartruralcommunity.org .