Virtual care delivers outcomes for people in rural areas

Dr. Neeta Goel, Vice President, Clinical Network

New Teladoc Health data reveals virtual care is proving its value in improving rural health

Nearly one in five Americans face potential barriers to care based on where they live. Without consistent access to care, people in rural areas face more health challenges compared to those in urban areas.

They face a higher risk of illnesses that can often be prevented, such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.
They are 25% more likely to have diabetes.
Despite similar rates of mental health illness, outcomes are much less favorable because they are less likely to receive treatment.

Improving rural healthcare has become a major priority in the U.S. In September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program which will invest $50 billion in improving access, quality and outcomes.

Rural health disparities: why virtual care matters

Healthcare fragmentation is common across the U.S., but it disproportionately affects people in rural communities. They are more likely to be affected by hospital closures and care provider shortages and end up relying on emergency services.

Virtual care has great potential to address some of the healthcare access challenges in rural communities by bridging the gap created by provider shortages, long travel distances and limited specialty services. Through virtual platforms, patients can connect with healthcare professionals for timely consultations, chronic disease management and mental health support—services that might otherwise be out of reach.

Still, it’s important to analyze whether other obstacles, such as limited high-speed internet, lower digital literacy or cultural barriers, limit the success of the increased access that virtual care undoubtedly offers.

Diabetes outcomes in rural vs. urban populations

We recently conducted a study to understand our ability to effectively support people with diabetes in rural areas compared to those in urban areas. The goal of this analysis was to ensure our solutions delivered equitable results across three key measures: enrollment, engagement and clinical improvement.

Enrollment ensures we’re reaching the right people, engagement drives sustained behavior change and clinical improvement demonstrates our solutions' effectiveness. Together, these key performance indicators validate impact and long-term results.

The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a validated measure that uses data such as income, education and employment to score areas from least socioeconomically disadvantaged to most disadvantaged. Rural areas tend to have higher ADI scores.

What we found was:

Enrollment rates were similar across rural and urban areas, reflecting equitable awareness, understanding and interest in virtual care. Communities with the lowest ADI scores had enrollment rates that were up to 25% higher than communities with high ADI scores.
Engagement rates were nearly the same, and people in rural communities were more likely to take advantage of coaching. Our comprehensive solution incorporates devices, self-guided activities, coaching and more. In areas with low ADI scores, there was a 39% higher response to coaching alerts, demonstrating the value of connecting them to human-based support.
Across communities, people demonstrated meaningful and equitable clinical improvement. People in rural areas achieved 1.38% average reduction in A1c—similar to people in urban areas, who achieved 1.48% average A1c reduction. This is clinically significant, because a 1% reduction in A1c is associated with lower rates of heart attacks and diabetes-related complications, such as kidney disease.

At Teladoc Health, we bring care directly to patients—not the other way around. Through cellular-connected devices that don’t require high-speed internet, at-home test kits and convenient access to a broad network of care providers (including therapists), we make high-quality healthcare accessible to those who need it most. This commitment ensures that even in the most remote communities, people can receive timely, personalized care that empowers them to manage their health and improve their quality of life.