Telemedical facilities are giving rural hospitals a way to help their non - urban patient populations 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 hospitals also need to accommodate a higher rate of elderly patients , which is 6 % higher than in urban areas , who will be let down by inadequate rural hospitals . That can be critical, especially during the winter when snowstorms sometimes cut off access to rural towns. With the integration of telemedicine , rural hospitals are able to offer services far beyond their normal capabilities through remote access to patients , remote monitoring , and virtual guidance from specialists . Using high - tech equipment in - house for scans and exams , the patients 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 populations 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 hospitals also need to accommodate a higher rate of elderly patients , which is 6 % higher than in urban areas , who will 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 patients , remote monitoring , and virtual guidance from specialists . Using high - tech equipment in - house for scans and exams , the patients 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 .