High Country health executive says telehealth brings benefits for rural patients

Health officials in the High Country say that telehealth services can fill a need for rural providers and their patients.

In a virtual town hall discussion last month, Jennifer Greene, the CEO of the Appalachian District Health Department, urged patients to lean into the new virtual technology. 

Easier access and stronger connections with providers are just a few of the many benefits of telehealth she cited. 

“We take care of each other in these rural communities. That’s part of what makes us great," she says. "So look out for yourself, but also share the information that you learned with your loved ones because oftentimes, you’re the spokesperson that’s going to connect them to resources.”

Greene pointed out the growing mental health concerns in rural counties across the state, noting that the rural teen suicide rate is much higher than their urban peers.

Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, the Chief Medical Officer of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, hosted the town hall. 

Residents of Ashe, Allegheny, and Watauga counties were encouraged to call in and ask questions related to rural health concerns.