| The aging of the population and projected shortage of physicians in coming years will create significant access to health care problems for rural America. Telemedicine is seen as one method of maintaining access to urban specialist physicians for rural communities during this shortage. This qualitative study identified barriers to physician adoption of telemedicine and best practices for overcoming these barriers. Interviews were conducted with 32 physicians and program managers associated with successful telemedicine programs throughout the United States. Grounded theory methodology was used to identify: barriers to physician adoption of telemedicine, best practices for overcoming these barriers, and words of wisdom for new and developing telemedicine programs. The most significant contribution of this study, was the emergence of new insight into physician perceived barriers to the adoption of telemedicine and best practices for overcoming these barriers. |
