An analysis of telehealth in a post-pandemic rural, Midwestern community: increased comfort and a preference for primary care

While broadband and fiberoptic Internet are associated with better telehealth experiences, other types of Internet also facilitated telehealth usage in our study, indicating that factors beyond access influence patient comfort and willingness to use telehealth. Our findings also reveal significant interest in telehealth for primary care, suggesting rural patients prefer familiar providers for telehealth interactions. Despite increased telehealth interest and usage during the pandemic, a decline post-pandemic indicates potential barriers exist, such as limited availability of healthcare providers. Exploring and addressing these barriers remains crucial for sustaining telehealth adoption and improving healthcare access in rural communities.