Kimberly A. S. Merchant, MA
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Phone: 319.384.4021
Email: kimberly-merchant@uiowa.edu
Health Management and Policy
University of Iowa
145 N. Riverside Drive
Iowa City, IA 52241
- Publications - (13)
Publications - (13)
2021
-
Implementation of Telehealth Services in Rural Schools: A Qualitative Assessment
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 11/2021
This study explores facilitators and barriers to implementation of telehealth programs in rural schools and identifies strategies for successful implementation to inform future school-based telehealth initiatives. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 50 key personnel involved in the School-Based Telehealth Network Grant Program. -
Using CPT Charges as an Economic Proxy for Telehealth and Non-Telehealth Emergency Department Utilization
Policy Brief
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 11/2021
This brief examines economic data on emergency department visits from unrelated rural hospitals. By using the reported Current Procedural Terminology code and associated charge, we explore the characteristics of the resulting dataset in terms of distribution and association with related variables. -
HRSA's Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program: Multi-Site Prospective Cohort Analysis Across Six Rural Emergency Department Telemedicine Networks
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 01/2021
The Health Resources and Services Administration funded six grantees to provide telehealth services in rural emergency departments (tele-ED) and gather data for the telehealth evidence base. This paper examines trends across multiple tele-ED networks and heterogeneity in processes and outcomes.
2020
-
Averted Transfers in Rural Emergency Departments Using Telemedicine: Rates and Costs Across Six Networks
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 08/2020
In a cohort of 4,324 tele-ED cases across 26 months in 65 hospitals in 6 tele-ED networks, 20% were averted transfers, and 43% of those were then routinely discharged rather than being transferred. Averted transfers saved on average $2,673 in avoidable transport costs per patient, with 63.6% of these cost savings accruing to public insurance. -
Process of Identifying Measures and Data Elements for the HRSA School-Based Telehealth Network Grant Program
Policy Brief
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 06/2020
This brief details work to identify measures and develop data elements appropriate to school-based telehealth, create an Excel-based tool, and systematically collect data from grantees in the Health Resources and Services Administration's School-Based Telehealth Network Grant Program. -
Measure and Data Element Identification for the HRSA Evidence-Based Tele-Behavioral Health Network Program and the HRSA Substance Abuse Treatment Telehealth Network Grant Program
Policy Brief
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 04/2020
This brief details work to identify measures and develop data elements appropriate to tele-behavioral health, create an Excel-based tool, and collect data from grantees in the Health Resources and Services Administration's Evidence-Based Tele-Behavioral Health Network Grant Program and Substance Abuse Treatment Telehealth Network Grant Program. -
Identifying Measures and Data Elements for the HRSA Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program
Policy Brief
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 03/2020
This brief details multi-project work to identify measures and develop data elements appropriate to emergency department-based telehealth, create an Excel-based tool, and systematically collect data from grantees in the Health Resources and Services Administration Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program. -
Emergency Department Telemedicine Consults Are Associated With Faster Time-to-ECG and Time-to-Fibrinolysis for Myocardial Infarction Patients
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 02/2020
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common, deadly emergency requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. In this rural cohort, emergency department-based telemedicine was associated with improved timeliness of electrocardiogram and fibrinolysis. This study adds to evidence that telemedicine can improve timeliness of AMI care in rural hospitals. -
Provider-to-Provider Telemedicine Improves Adherence to Sepsis Bundle Care in Community Emergency Departments
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 01/2020
Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency, and timely "bundled" care improves survival. In this rural cohort, telemedicine in the emergency department (tele-ED) improved sepsis bundle adherence, including timely fluid resuscitation and antibiotic administration. Tele-ED may be a scalable intervention to improve sepsis emergency care in rural EDs.
2019
-
Emergency Department Telemedicine Consults Decrease Time to Interpret Computed Tomography of the Head in a Multi-Network Cohort
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 11/2019
This was a study of emergency telemedicine (tele-ED) for stroke care in four tele-ED networks. Tele-ED was associated with decreased time to diagnostic imaging interpretation and time to thrombolytic medication. The effect of tele-ED varied by network, suggesting network characteristics may influence the realized tele-ED benefit for stroke care. -
Tele-Emergency Behavioral Health in Rural and Underserved Areas
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 11/2019
This paper describes how two distinct tele-emergency department (ED) behavioral health models address challenges in access and placement for patients in rural and underserved areas presenting to EDs. The notable difference in disposition rates between cases and controls shows the impact each model is having on care practices and processes. -
Pediatric Tele-Emergency Care: A Study of Two Delivery Models
Journal Article
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Date: 04/2019
This study describes two tele-emergency programs that provide care to pediatric populations. Qualitative descriptions of the two tele-emergency department (ED) models and key characteristics of the patient populations served by tele-ED are presented. The study informs others about evaluative measures and how tele-ED works in practice.
2015
-
Hospital Views of Factors Affecting Telemedicine Use
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 04/2015
This brief expands upon previous research by examining hospital-based use of telemedicine by determining the type of use by hospitals, whether it be providing services as a hub or receiving services as a spoke, and then identifying factors from the hospitals' perspectives that affect use.