The Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration 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 health care issues, research findings on rural health care issues, and innovative approaches to the delivery of health care in rural areas, specifically through the use of digital health.
The RTEC is directed by the UAMS Institute for Digital Health and Innovation. We evaluate telehealth practices to show how they affect patient outcomes and rural hospitals. The 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.