The Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center (RTEC) is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), the US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to conduct evaluation research on telehealth services, which aligns with Section 711 of the Social Security Act. Additionally, the RTEC aligns with Section 11 by establishing and maintaining a clearinghouse to collect and disseminate information on rural healthcare issues, research findings on rural healthcare issues, and innovative approaches to the delivery of healthcare in rural areas, specifically through the use of digital health.
RTEC is directed by the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI). We evaluate telehealth practices to show how they affect patient outcomes and rural hospitals. RTEC’s research portfolio encompasses the evaluation of digital health solutions and programs from efficacy and financial perspectives. These evaluation findings serve to help inform rural hospitals on utilizing telehealth in their practice while giving policymakers key points needed for focus and funding to advance telehealth in rural America.