Telemedicine in Rural Settings: A Narrative Review

Bwanbale Geoffrey David

Faculty of Pharmacy Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Telemedicine has emerged as a transformative strategy for addressing persistent healthcare disparities in rural settings characterized by limited infrastructure, workforce shortages, and geographic isolation. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from historical, technological, clinical, economic, and policy domains to examine how telemedicine has evolved and its impact on rural health systems. Early initiatives in the United States including innovations in New Mexico, federal and state funding programs, and the expansion of telecommunications networks laid the foundation for multiple telehealth modalities across specialties such as dermatology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and chronic disease management. Findings reveal that telemedicine improves access to care, reduces travel burdens, enhances continuity of services, and provides cost-saving opportunities for patients and health systems. Despite these gains, challenges persist regarding broadband limitations, regulatory inconsistencies, data security, reimbursement models, provider readiness, and cultural acceptability. Patient and provider experiences during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic underscore the need for hybrid care models, workforce training, and stronger evaluation frameworks. The review identifies gaps in research involving older adults, pregnant women, transient populations, and under-examined specialties. Overall, telemedicine represents a viable and evolving mechanism for improving rural healthcare delivery, but its long-term sustainability depends on coordinated policy support, technological investment, and context-specific implementation strategies.

Keywords: Telemedicine, Rural Health, Health Equity, Digital Health Infrastructure, and Healthcare Access.

CITE AS: Bwanbale Geoffrey David. (2026). Telemedicine in Rural Settings: A Narrative Review. IDOSR JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES 12(1): 67-71. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JES/06/1216771