Rural and underserved hospitals nationwide face a widening gap in specialty care. A Becker’s Healthcare survey of 100 hospital and health system leaders across roughly 30 states points to the root cause: the problem isn’t technology; it’s a shortage of specialists.
That scarcity feeds on itself. The same shortage driving access gaps also keeps virtual care from scaling, leaving hospitals stuck in a loop. In this session, leaders from Ballad Health, Sanford Health and other systems share what virtual specialty care requires beyond basic telehealth, where access breaks down most and how systems are moving faster by working together.
The timing is pressing. With CMS’ Rural Health Transformation Program directing $50 billion to states over five years, the choices leaders make now will shape rural specialty access for years.
What you’ll learn:
- Where specialty access gaps are widest across care settings
- Why specialist shortages also stall virtual care expansion
- What virtual specialty care demands beyond telehealth