Rural Omnichannel Healthcare: A Demand-Centric Approach in Transportation System Design
Entering its second year, the Rural Omnichannel Healthcare Project aims to enhance rural healthcare equity and accessibility by refining the deployment strategy of Telehealth Kiosks/Booths (TKBs). Grounded in Year 1's evidence, this phase deepens the understanding of the complex underlying demand dynamics for the use of TKBs. In particular, Year 2 aims to better understand both the currently unmet healthcare needs in rural areas and how these needs drive the demand for TKBs. Additionally, it investigates how the use of TKBs correlates with the demand for services at existing healthcare facilities. This phase also examines the geographical factors that influence the adoption and utilization of TKBs, exploring how location affects the effectiveness and popularity of these kiosks in enhancing rural healthcare access. Through rigorous empirical research, we aim to refine distance decay functions that describe how these factors impact healthcare access. These insights will inform the enhancement of our mathematical models, guiding the strategic deployment of TKBs to address the unmet needs and preferences of rural communities effectively. The project is set to offer innovative solutions that realistically improve healthcare access and quality, addressing rural healthcare disparities with precision. Through this comprehensive approach, Year 2 of the Rural Omnichannel Healthcare Project stands to significantly advance our understanding of the complexities of healthcare access in rural areas, bridging critical gaps and fostering a more equitable healthcare landscape.
- Record URL:
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $217,118.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348307
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Mid-America Transportation Center
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2200 Vine Street, PO Box 830851
Lincoln, NE United States 68583-0851 -
Project Managers:
Stearns, Amy
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Performing Organizations:
University of Missouri, St. Louis
1 University Boulevard
St. Louis, MO United States 63121-4400 -
Principal Investigators:
Enayati, Shakiba
Encarnacion, Trilce
Akenroye, Temidayo
- Start Date: 20240601
- Expected Completion Date: 20260630
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Delivery service; Drones; Health care facilities; Mixed integer programming; Rural areas; Telecommunications
- Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Society; Terminals and Facilities; Transportation (General); Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01971690
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Mid-America Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348307
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Nov 18 2025 1:56PM