Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Adoption of Telehealth Services among Acute Care Hospitals in the U.S

Abstract

Recent unprecedented events, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, have profoundly influenced the landscape of the United States healthcare system. In response to challenges related to accessibility, affordability, and the rapid spread of the virus, technological advancements played a pivotal role. Telehealth services, encompassing virtual medicine, public health, health education, and support services, emerged as a crucial solution. This study aims to explain the influence of a hospital's geographic location on its adoption of telehealth services post-COVID. Data incorporating hospital characteristics and adoption of telehealth services from the 2020 and 2021 American Hospital Association's Annual Survey of Hospitals was combined with county-level characteristics from the Area Health Resource File. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the panel data. Examining 6,552 acute care hospitals (38.83% rural and 61.17% urban), logistic regression revealed that rural hospitals were 1.37 times more likely to adopt telehealth services than their urban counterparts (P<0.05). Furthermore, hospital characteristics, including ownership status and bed size, were identified as significant factors influencing the likelihood of telehealth adoption. County-level factors such as unemployment rate (β= 0.064, P<0.05), percent persons with more than a high school diploma (β= 0.041, P<0.05), and percent white population (β= 0.011, P<0.05) also proved vital predictors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency to adopt telehealth services was notable, particularly in hospitals serving rural communities. Rural hospitals exhibited a higher likelihood of telehealth adoption than their urban counterparts. Telehealth played a pivotal role in mitigating accessibility challenges in rural areas and curbing the spread of the disease.