Providing Access to Healthcare for Patients in Rural Communities
Healthcare for Underserved Populations
Living in a rural community can present unique challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare.
Distance to a clinic and limited transportation options presents barriers to care in addition to the difficulties faced in accessing a physician with the growing shortage of family doctors.
With a wide range of healthcare services including primary, emergency and specialist care, Rocket Doctor can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, providing those in rural communities with a means of accessible care without the need to travel.
Diverse Locations of Rocket Doctor Patients
Since launching in 2020, Rocket Doctor has enabled physicians on the platform to provide over a quarter of a million virtual appointments.
Our data shows that these appointments cover an extensive range of locations across the country.The map of Ontario shows an example of how patients across the province are using virtual care to access healthcare from the comfort and convenience of their homes.
This is the same in Alberta and British Columbia where 50% of patients are from rural/Northern communities.
As an attending Emergency Physician I’ve seen firsthand the challenges of providing care to patients in rural communities, both around access to care, geographic and climate related challenges and difficulties accessing specialist and primary care alike.
I’m so proud that MDs on Rocket Doctor are able to offer the highest quality of care to so many people across Canada, entirely funded by their Provincial health insurance
Dr. William Cherniak
Rocket Doctor founder and CEO
Rural Communities
With increased access to wireless high-speed internet and mobile devices, and higher comfort with the use of technology for access to services, telemedicine is poised to address these barriers. Ensuring more Canadians have access to broadband internet will further improve their ability in rural and underserved communities to take advantage of this new technology.
References:
- Canada Health Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-6). ( https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-6/page-2.html#docCont )
- Health at a Glance, Difficulty accessing health care services in Canada. Stats Canada. ( https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-624-x/2016001/article/14683-eng.htm )
- Harrington DW, Wilson K, Rosenberg M and Bell S. Access granted! barriers endure: determinants of difficulties accessing specialist care when required in Ontario, Canada. BMC Health Services Research. April, 2013. ( https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6963-13-146 )
