Sanford Summit Speakers Say More Work is Needed to Unlock The Full Benefits of Rural Telehealth

(Photo courtesy of Sanford Health via the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – The key to improving rural health care in the Dakotas is more than telehealth, according to health and innovation experts.

It’ll require providing rural residents with tools to monitor their own health, and nearby hubs or health care access to conduct basic tests ahead of telehealth visits with specialists.

“How do we have both the tools and the training to tell you how to use them so that the care can start even before the ambulance gets there?” said Nworah Ayogu, a physician and investor in health care technology.

Ayogu, who is also a member of the Sanford Health Plan board, was one panelist to speak about efforts to improve rural access to affordable and quality health care at the fourth annual Summit on the Future of Rural Health Care hosted by Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.