Telemedicine Infrastructure and Indicators of Outpatient Care Accessibility in Russia, 2018–2024

Overview

This study evaluates the relationship between telemedicine volume and outpatient care accessibility in Russia from 2018 to 2024. It highlights regional disparities in digital readiness.

Background

Telemedicine has gained prominence as a potential solution to improve healthcare access, particularly in regions with varying digital infrastructure. This study provides insights into how telemedicine volume correlates with access to care across different Russian territories.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• The association between the Digital Infrastructure Index (DII) and physician visits changed significantly after two-way centering.
• Telemedicine consultations increased from 0.39-0.68 million in 2018-2019 to 15.94 million in 2024.
• The patient-physician share peaked at 0.919 in 2020 but declined to 0.496 in 2024.
• Regional disparities in digital readiness affect the interpretation of telemedicine data.
• Telemedicine volume alone is insufficient to assess access equality without considering the context of service delivery.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should interpret telemedicine volume with caution, considering regional digital readiness and resource configuration.

Conclusion

The study emphasizes the need for careful analysis of telemedicine data in relation to patient access and care quality.

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