As the Obama Administration works toward improving our nation’s healthcare system, it is essential that we address the healthcare professional access disparity between urban and rural communities.  The Hill recently published an op-ed entitled, “Telemedicine’s promise and potential” which highlights the many challenges facing the adoption of a new, more affordable healthcare system – specifically in rural communities.  “According to a study by the National Advisory on Rural Health and Human Services, more than a third of rural Americans live in “health shortage areas” and nearly 82 percent of rural counties are classified as medically under-served.”  Additionally, the article points out that those medical professionals who do practice in rural areas are aging.  Because of these challenges, it is imperative for rural providers to adopt more efficient and effective technologies to help bridge the gap between patients and providers. However, without access to high-speed Internet, the use of innovative technologies is limited.  As a national broadband strategy is developed, it is obvious that telemedicine has the opportunity and potential to drastically increase healthcare access in rural America and beyond. 

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