Importance of rurality on the impact of a frontline telemedicine tool for the elderly

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become a lifeline to maintain access to healthcare professionals, especially for older adults who have been particularly impacted by physical distancing measures. In particular, going forward, telemedicine offers new opportunities to improve access to care for older adults living in rural areas, who are disproportionately affected by access barriers such as distance, transportation, and mobility. Despite the potential of telemedicine, few studies have examined the extent to which rurality can influence the impact of telemedicine tools for older adults. My research project therefore aims to 1) measure whether living in a rural area can affect the effectiveness of a telemedicine tool for older adults; and 2) understand and contrast the experiences of older adults living in rural and urban areas who use this telemedicine tool. I will use a telemedicine tool made in Quebec, ESOGER, which allows for rapid assessment by telephone of the physical, mental and social needs of elderly patients. Since the beginning of the pandemic, ESOGER has been used to assess the needs of more than 10,000 elderly people in various community settings at the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. The project is original in its use of high-quality research methods to understand the best conditions for applying telemedicine especially to the elderly. Ultimately, the project will help to better organize care for the elderly and thus help improve their quality of life.