Extended Reality Telehealth for Rural Spaces

Rural Americans encounter substantial healthcare disparities when compared to urban counterparts, including provider shortages, less access to specialists, and higher mortality risks from various chronic and acute conditions. While 13.8% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, rural regions comprise two-thirds of healthcare provider shortage areas. Accordingly, broadband-enabled telehealth that mitigates barriers to healthcare access can be a transformative solution for patients and physicians in rural areas. Emerging telehealth platforms extend beyond traditional video consultations, incorporating extended reality (XR) technologies comprising virtual reality (VR) and alternative reality (AR) solutions. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) promises unique diagnostic and epidemiological benefits for care management. These technologies collectively offer advancements for mental health treatment, physician training, and personalized care management. Rural broadband infrastructure is critical to enabling these technological healthcare innovations, representing a key pathway to improving medical access and patient outcomes for rural users.