The use of telehealth in pediatric neurosurgery for rural patients of Appalachia
Telehealth significantly enhances access to pediatric neurosurgical care for rural and economically disadvantaged families, reducing travel-related burdens and increasing visit adherence. However, economically distressed communities in Appalachia are less likely to use telehealth, possibly due to digital access issues or skepticism about remote care. Addressing these barriers is crucial to ensure equitable healthcare access. Further research should investigate structural and personal obstacles to telehealth uptake to improve service delivery for at-risk populations, ultimately fostering more inclusive and accessible healthcare options in remote areas.
Authors
- Kimberly Hamilton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2266-8071)
- Timothy Dotson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7594-0545)
- Sijin Wen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6955-2917)
- Brian Witrick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3800-8695)
- David Fletcher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0556-0360)
- Kate Gelman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9296-0581)
- Hang Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6528-0128)
Institutions
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- West Virginia University (US)
- Virginia Department of Health (US)
- West Virginia University Hospitals (US)
- Clemson University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics
- Published
- 2025-09-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3171/2025.5.peds24631
- Primary Topic
- Surgical Simulation and Training
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00