IPROC iproc Iproceedings 2369-6893 JMIR Publications Toronto, Canada v9i1e41562 10.2196/41562 Abstract Abstract Telehealth Challenges for California Rural Hospitals in Reaching Latino Populations During COVID-19 Dinesen Birthe Mauricio Noemi RN, BSc 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0013-196X Newhart Glen MBA, CFRE 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5147-7787 Herber Steven MD 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5872-2642 Ahumada-Newhart Veronica PhD 2
University of California Davis, School of Medicine Center for Health and Technology 4610 X Street Suite 2347 Sacramento, CA, 95817 United States 1 916 734 2351 vahumada@ucdavis.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6983-9726 Saint Helena Hospital Loma Linda University Saint Helena, CA United States University of California Davis, School of Medicine Center for Health and Technology Sacramento, CA United States Corresponding Author: Veronica Ahumada-Newhart vahumada@ucdavis.edu 2023 3 4 2023 9 e41562 30 7 2022 27 3 2023 ©Noemi Mauricio, Glen Newhart, Steven Herber, Veronica Ahumada-Newhart. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 03.04.2023. 2023

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 Background

Rural and remote communities were especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic due to the availability and capacity of rural health services. Research has found that key issues surrounded (1) the lack of staff, (2) the need for coordinated health services, and (3) operational and facility issues. Similarly, research also confirms that irrespective of hospital capacity issues existing during crisis, compared to urban communities, rural communities typically face poorer access to health services. Telehealth programs have long held promise for addressing health disparities perpetuated by inadequate health care access. In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Adventist Health Saint Helena Hospital, a rural hospital in northern California, urgently worked to expand telehealth services. However, as Adventist Health Saint Helena Hospital is the longest-serving rural hospital in the state of California, administrators were also able to draw on experiences from the pandemic of 1918/1919. Understanding their historically rural and heavily Latino populations, their telehealth approach was coupled with cultural approaches for prioritizing socially responsive and equitable access to health services.

 Objective

This study aimed to present one rural community’s holistic sociotechnical response to COVID-19 in redesigning their health care delivery approach. Redesign efforts included the expansion of digital health services coupled with county-wide collaborations for nondigital mobile health centers, testing, and vaccination clinics to meet the needs of those with limited digital access and language barriers.

 Methods

We present data on telehealth services for maintaining critical care services and a framework on the feasibility of private-public partnerships to address COVID-19 challenges.

 Results

In this paper, we provide a critical review of how a rural hospital adapted its health care approach to incorporate telehealth services and distance services to meet the needs of a diverse population.

 Conclusions

This paper contributes empirical data on how rural communities can use telehealth technologies and community partnerships for a holistic community approach to meet health needs during a natural disaster.

 Conflicts of Interest

None declared.

 telehealth challenges California rural hospitals Latino populations COVID-19