Telemedicine revolutionized the field of medicine. Gone were the days when patients had to make the trip to see their primary health physician or have a doctor make a house call; with a few keystrokes of an electronic device, a patient could access and track their health status effortlessly.

With customized health packages, a dedicated database, and a doctor who was only a call away, this technology had the potential to reach and adequately serve rural communities that didn't have access to a primary care physician.

Telemedicine was deeply entrenched in the state of Nebraska as it was the most efficient means of serving people in rural communities during COIVD-19. The University of Nebraska Medical Center released a study in 2018 that left many worried. The study found that thirteen counties had no primary care physician at all.

Additionally, there were financial concerns, as profits would not offset the massive overhead costs of setting up a practice in a rural community.

With these many problems, it's no surprise that Telemedicine was a great relief. Instead of driving many miles to see a doctor, patients could have a doctor's visit from the comfort of their homes. 

This was especially helpful for seniors who need a check-up and can't afford to make long journeys just for a routine exam. As the Covid-19 crisis was still an ongoing threat, access to healthcare was even more paramount.

Nebraska made some gains in the number of physicians. The UNMC report showed that the state had a 19% gain in doctors, including specialists, over ten years. Nurse practitioners had a 50% gain over the same period, a 7% increase in dentists, and a 23% increase in pharmacists. However, experts said it was not enough, as there were still counties without doctors. 

Telehealth was the solution. It is cost-effective, efficient, productive, eliminates canceled appointments, and has the propensity to retain and add patients to doctor's offices. It also reduced overhead costs. 

Even when a vaccine and social distancing weren't required, telehealth still prevailed as a cost-effective solution for many in rural areas.