Expansion and Scaling of Electronic Health Services for Rural Communities: An International Analysis [Funder: Carleton University COVID-19 Rapid Research Response Grants]

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, eHealth was promoted as a solution for equitable provision of rural health services. However, most eHealth programs did not live up to the promise over the long term. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the immediate and widespread expansion of eHealth services in Australia, Canada, and Sweden (as elsewhere). As the pandemic spread between countries, virtual visits shifted to the norm for many regions of the world, often in a matter of weeks or even days. Numerous reviews have highlighted barriers to effective implementation of eHealth, but the issues identified in these reviews have not yet been addressed, despite widespread adoption of eHealth as a primary mode of service. This project is concerned with scaling-up rapid rural eHealth expansion and building a framework to strengthen health and care systems in rural locations during and beyond the pandemic. This project is engaged with rural physicians, communities, and researchers.