Site icon Rxappbuilder

Advancing Telehealth Initiatives to Expand Healthcare Access in Community Settings

Expanding access to quality healthcare remains a top priority for organizations dedicated to serving diverse populations across the United States. Telehealth has emerged as a vital solution, leveraging electronic communication and telemedicine technologies to deliver clinical services, health education, and administrative support remotely. This approach is especially crucial in addressing healthcare disparities, improving outcomes, and overcoming barriers such as provider shortages and geographic isolation.

UnitedHealthcare Community & State recognizes the transformative potential of telehealth in reshaping healthcare delivery. As projections indicate a looming shortage of approximately 120,000 physicians by 2030, particularly impacting rural communities with an average of 13.1 physicians per 10,000 residents, innovative strategies are essential. In 2022, patients faced an average wait of 26 days for appointments, highlighting the urgent need for more accessible care options. Moreover, only 8% of adults aged 35 and older receive all recommended preventive services, underscoring gaps in ongoing care. The economic burden of travel and waiting time, estimated at $89 billion annually, further emphasizes the importance of virtual health solutions that can reduce costs and improve efficiency.

To address these challenges, UnitedHealthcare’s telehealth strategy focuses on expanding network capacity and enhancing equitable access. By deploying comprehensive, multimodal solutions tailored to the needs of members, providers, and their communities, the organization aims to reduce health disparities and improve overall care experiences.

Evolving the Provider Care Delivery System

A core element of this strategy involves strengthening the capacity of local providers to deliver telehealth services. This includes connecting providers to grant funding opportunities for acquiring telehealth technology and staffing support. For example, the UnitedHealth Foundation allocated $3.2 million to expand East Carolina University’s statewide telepsychiatry program in North Carolina, which delivers mental health services to children in underserved rural areas. Supporting local providers also involves promoting eConsultation services—secure, asynchronous physician-to-physician communications—that allow primary care providers to consult specialists, facilitating faster diagnoses and treatment plans, reducing costs, and increasing patient satisfaction.

Empowering Members with Access to Telehealth

UnitedHealthcare Community & State offers personalized virtual care options that address both physical and behavioral health needs. Their extensive network includes providers offering telehealth services for urgent care, primary care, mental health, chronic disease management, and maternal and pediatric health. However, digital disparities persist, especially among Black and rural populations, limiting access to virtual services. To bridge this digital divide, efforts are underway to improve technology infrastructure and provide member education, ensuring more equitable access to care.

Engaging Communities through Telehealth Hubs

Access challenges are even more pronounced in rural and low-income communities where broadband connectivity is often unreliable. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health reports that 21% of rural Americans experience difficulties with high-speed internet. To combat this, UnitedHealthcare Community & State is establishing telehealth hubs—community-based sites equipped with high-speed internet and devices preloaded with telehealth applications. These sites are often located within familiar community centers, such as clinics, schools, or pharmacies, with some hubs staffed by healthcare professionals to assist members in connecting with providers.

The telehealth hub concept is a critical component of the organization’s broader strategy. By partnering with local organizations—such as school districts and pharmacies—the initiative creates accessible, confidential environments for virtual consultations. Rachel Bauch, Director of Virtual Care Strategy, emphasizes the importance of these hubs, stating, “Telehealth centers play a pivotal role in reducing the digital divide, enabling members who lack devices or internet connectivity to access essential healthcare services.”

In North Carolina, a collaboration with the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network exemplifies this approach. An investment of $75,000 supports 11 pharmacy-based telehealth hubs, providing in-person testing and consultations for conditions like flu, strep throat, COVID-19, and diabetes-related issues. Future plans include expanding behavioral health services through these hubs, bringing care even closer to the communities that need it most.

Kristi Fowler, Director of Medicaid Pharmacy Growth and Innovation, highlights the benefits: “In many areas, it can take 45 minutes or more to reach urgent care. With pharmacy-based telehealth, patients can receive immediate, convenient care right at their local neighborhood pharmacy, including point-of-care testing and follow-up support.”

UnitedHealthcare remains dedicated to overcoming provider shortages and care barriers through these innovative telehealth solutions, fostering collaboration with independent pharmacies and community organizations, especially in rural regions.

Enjoy this blog? Get future Community & State insights delivered right to your inbox.

—

Sources:

Related content

Exit mobile version