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Showing content from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31215975/ below:

Evaluation of Barriers to Telehealth Programs and Dermatological Care for American Indian Individuals in Rural Communities

. 2019 Aug 1;155(8):899-905. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.0872. Evaluation of Barriers to Telehealth Programs and Dermatological Care for American Indian Individuals in Rural Communities

Affiliations

¹ Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
² Indians Into Medicine Program, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
³ Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
⁴ Division of General Internal Medicine and Department of Health Care Policy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
⁵ Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

PMID: 31215975
PMCID: PMC6584892
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.0872

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Evaluation of Barriers to Telehealth Programs and Dermatological Care for American Indian Individuals in Rural Communities

Anna M Morenz et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2019.

. 2019 Aug 1;155(8):899-905. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.0872. Affiliations

¹ Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
² Indians Into Medicine Program, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
³ Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
⁴ Division of General Internal Medicine and Department of Health Care Policy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
⁵ Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

PMID: 31215975
PMCID: PMC6584892
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.0872

Item in Clipboard

Abstract

Importance: Understanding geographic and financial barriers to health care is an important step toward creating more accessible health care systems. Yet, the barriers to dermatological care access for American Indian populations in rural areas have not been studied extensively.

Objective: To evaluate the driving distances and insurance coverage for dermatological care and the current availability of teledermatological programs within the Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals system.

Design, setting, and participants: This mixed-methods study was conducted from May 7, 2018, to September 1, 2018, and did not take place in any IHS or tribal health care facility in the continental United States. The study design involved a geographic analysis and a cross-sectional telephone survey with brick-and-mortar dermatology clinics (n = 27) and teledermatological programs (n = 49). Brick-and-mortar clinics were selected for their proximity to a rural IHS or tribal hospital.

Main outcomes and measures: Mean driving distance from rural IHS or tribal hospital to nearest dermatology clinic, number of dermatology clinics within a 35-mile or 90-mile radius of IHS or tribal hospitals, insurance and referral types accepted by dermatology clinics, and number of teledermatological programs collaborating with IHS or tribal hospitals or health centers.

Results: In total, 27 brick-and-mortar dermatology clinics and 49 teledermatological programs were identified and contacted for the survey. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) driving distance between rural IHS or tribal hospitals and the nearest dermatology clinic was 68 (30-104) miles. Of the 27 dermatology clinics in closest proximity to rural IHS or tribal hospitals (median [IQR] driving distance, 82.4 [31-114] miles), 25 (93%) responded to the survey, 6 (22%) did not accept patients with Medicaid, and 6 (22%) did not accept IHS referrals for patients without insurance. Of the 49 teledermatological programs, 45 (92%) responded and 14 (29%) were no longer active. Ten (20%) teledermatology programs were currently partnering (n = 6), previously partnered (n = 2), or were setting up services (n = 2) with an IHS or tribal site. Only 9% (n = 27) of the 303 rural IHS or facility in the continental United States reported receiving teledermatological services.

Conclusions and relevance: Substantial geographic and insurance coverage barriers to dermatological care exist for American Indian individuals in rural communities; teledermatological innovations could represent an important step toward minimizing the disparities in dermatological care access and outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Mostaghimi reported personal fees from Pfizer and Harvard Medical School outside of the submitted work. Dr Sequist reported personal fees from Aetna outside of the submitted work and being the medical director of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Indian Health Service Outreach Program. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures
Figure.. Geographic Distribution of Surveyed Dermatology Clinics…

Figure.. Geographic Distribution of Surveyed Dermatology Clinics and Indian Health Service (IHS) or Tribal Hospitals
Figure.. Geographic Distribution of Surveyed Dermatology Clinics and Indian Health Service (IHS) or Tribal Hospitals

The map presents the 11 regional IHS service areas (Albuquerque, Bemidji, Billings, California, Great Plains, Nashville, Navajo, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, and Tucson) in the continental United States, including surveyed rural dermatology clinics and urban dermatology clinics, which were excluded and treated as survey end points. Information on the IHS service areas retrieved from the US Department of Health & Human Services Open Data Site.

Comment in

doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.0860