Evaluation of an Effective Telehealth Model for Healthcare Services for the Homeless: The Remote Area Medical Experience

Authors

  • Joslyn Russell Senior Student Volunteer, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
  • Kim Worley RAM (Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corp), Rockford, Tennessee, USA
  • Amanda Weber, MS RAM (Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corp), Rockford, Tennessee, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7919-0470
  • Holly Smith, AS, AEMT, NREMT RAM (Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corp), Rockford, Tennessee, USA
  • Stephen Blackstock RAM (Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corp), Rockford, Tennessee, USA
  • Paul Hart, MD Formerly volunteer physician: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7217-1966

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v10.573

Keywords:

Access barriers, chronic disease management, healthcare, homeless, remote area medical, telehealth

Abstract

Telehealth is an increasingly used means of providing healthcare to the homeless. However, authors have noted barriers to offering healthcare using this option. Difficulty in reaching patients, inability to obtain basic vital signs, trouble providing necessary medications for common conditions, and problems with some individuals using the technology. Remote Area Medicine employs a different model to overcome these issues. Clinics are held within a homeless shelter with all the needed equipment. A nurse is present to obtain medical information and assist the providers by obtaining vital signs, etc. Basic medications are provided free of charge if the patient is uninsured. Additionally, a medical van has been outfitted with telehealth access to allow those patients not in the shelter to access care. This article documents six months of patient data showing the effectiveness of this program

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References

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Published

2025-09-30

How to Cite

Russell, J., Worley, K., Amanda Weber, MS, A. W. M., 2Holly Smith, AS, AEMT, NREMT, H. S. A. A. N., 2Stephen Blackstock, 2Stephen B., & Hart, P. (2025). Evaluation of an Effective Telehealth Model for Healthcare Services for the Homeless: The Remote Area Medical Experience. Telehealth and Medicine Today, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v10.573

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2025): Telehealth and Medicine Today

Section

Use Cases, Pilots

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Joslyn Russell, Kim Worley, Amanda Weber, MS, Holly Smith, AS, AEMT, NREMT, Stephen Blackstock, Paul Hart, MD

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to  Telehealth and Medicine Today (THMT).

THMT is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.