Transforming Rural Health: The Impact of Telehealth on Access and Care

Abstract

Background: Rural health disparities persistently challenge healthcare delivery in underserved areas. Telehealth innovations have emerged as promising interventions to bridge gaps in access and quality care. Objective: This study aims to evaluate telehealth’s effectiveness in transforming rural health access and care by assessing clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness in a multi-center tertiary hospital setting in Bangladesh. Methods: A retrospective multi-center study was conducted at tertiary level hospitals in Bangladesh from January 2018 to June 2021. A total of 122 patients receiving telehealth services were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests. Data were collected on clinical outcomes, satisfaction scores, and cost metrics, and analyzed with SPSS version 25 to determine statistical significance of findings with robust confidence. Results: The analysis revealed significant improvements in clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Approximately 78% of patients reported enhanced access to care, with a mean satisfaction score of 4.2 (SD=0.6) on a 5-point scale. Telehealth reduced average patient travel time by 62%, and cost savings averaged 48% compared to traditional care. Inferential statistics indicated a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) in outcomes between telehealth and conventional services. Subgroup analysis showed that younger patients and those in remote areas benefited the most, with improvements exceeding 80% in specific metrics. Further calculations demonstrated a standard deviation of 0.6 across satisfaction metrics and low p-values (<0.01), confirming the reproducibility of telehealth outcomes across diverse patient subgroups. Conclusion: Telehealth transforms rural healthcare delivery, enhancing access and reducing costs. This study underscores its clinical and economic benefits, advocating for broader adoption and policy support to sustain digital healthcare advancements.