Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Rural communities in Texas face significant barriers to healthcare access, including geographic isolation, limited healthcare facilities, and shortages of healthcare providers, which exacerbate health disparities and contribute to poorer health outcomes (Bennett et al., 2019; Jafri et al., 2024). This study examines healthcare access disparities between rural and urban areas in Texas, focusing on the role of telehealth and its impact on vulnerable populations, such as older adults and cardiovascular patients. Regions of Texas were categorized into rural, metropolitan, and metroplex areas to analyze variations in healthcare outcomes and access. Rural areas, defined as those with populations under 200,000, struggle with limited resources, impacting both healthcare availability and mortality rates (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, [ODPHP], n.d.; Rural Health Information Hub, [RHIhub], n.d.; U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). Additionally, this study explores how telehealth has the potential to bridge access gaps but faces challenges like inadequate broadband infrastructure and low adoption rates. The statistically significant relationships between healthcare access and mortality underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve healthcare equity.
Disciplines
Cardiovascular Diseases | Diseases | Health and Medical Administration | Health Information Technology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Quality Improvement | Telemedicine
Publication Date
5-2025
Language
English
Faculty Mentor of Honors Project
Dr. Crystal M. Rahman DNP, FNP-C, APRN, MSN, RN
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
O'Neal, Alexis K., "Wild West Healthcare: Addressing Healthcare Disparities In Rural Texas" (2025). 2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects. 37.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_spring2025/37