Telemedical facilities are giving rural hospitals a way to help their non-urban patient population get the medical care they need. Rural hospitals are closing at a rate of around about one facility per month since 42 , and with 6% of the Washington population living in rural areas, the need for adequate healthcare provision in rural areas is vital. Rural areas also need to accommodate a higher rate of elderly patients, which is 14% higher than in urban areas, who can be let down by inadequate rural hospitals. With the integration of telemedicine, rural hospitals are able to offer services far beyond their normal capabilities through remote access to physicians, remote prescriptions, and virtual guidance from specialists. Using high-tech equipment in-house for scans and exams, the data can be sent to remote physicians for virtual emergency support. Rural healthcare does not have to exclude high quality medical care or medical facilities with the addition of telemedicine, which can free up funding for higher standards of equipment.
Telemedical facilities are giving rural hospitals a way to help their non-urban patient population get the medical care they need. Rural hospitals are closing at a rate of around one facility per month since 2010, and with 14% of the US population living in rural areas, the need for adequate healthcare provision in rural areas is vital. Rural areas also need to accommodate a higher rate of elderly patients, which is 6% higher than in urban areas, who can be let down by inadequate rural hospitals. With the integration of telemedicine, rural hospitals are able to offer services far beyond their normal capabilities through remote access to physicians, remote prescriptions, and virtual guidance from specialists. Using high-tech equipment in-house for scans and exams, the data can be sent to remote physicians for virtual emergency support. Rural healthcare does not have to exclude high quality medical care or medical facilities with the addition of telemedicine, which can free up funding for higher standards of equipment.