Date of Award
Fall 11-16-2025
Degree Type
Open Access Capstone
Abstract
The maternal health crisis in the United States has become an alarming issue, with rural women experiencing twice the rate of pregnancy-related deaths compared to urban populations. This crisis highlights the need to address the growing concern of deep-rooted inequalities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for marginalized populations. In response to key contributors such as workforce shortages, systemic inequities, and widespread “maternity care deserts”, this project aimed to explore evidence-based telehealth strategies to improve perinatal outcomes in rural America. A literature review was conducted to examine access barriers, maternal health inequalities, and effective telehealth models, with findings revealing that over half of rural counties lack obstetric services, driving mortality from preventable maternal causes. With integration of virtual visits and community-based supports, telehealth-supported prenatal care demonstrated effectiveness in improving monitoring for preventable conditions, increasing prenatal engagement, and enhancing satisfaction. Policy analysis identified barriers to broadband inequities, inconsistent reimbursement policies, and licensure restrictions. Recommended actions include investing in broadband infrastructure, establishing permanent reimbursement policies, reviewing regulatory licensure constraints, and supporting community programs to strengthen cultural competence and sustain prenatal telehealth as an equitable model to reduce maternal mortality across rural U.S.
Recommended Citation
Lima, Jazmine, "Improving Maternal Outcomes Through Prenatal Telehealth Services in Rural America" (2025). Capstones. 6.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/capstones/6
Comments
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