Investigating Differences in School-Based Telehealth Implementation and Services in the School Based Telehealth Network Grant Program Grantees

School-based telehealth offers a potential opportunity to expand and enhance access to health services. In 2016, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy funded 21 grantees through the School Based Telehealth Network Grant Program to expand access to underserved communities providing school based telehealth services with a focus on five clinical areas: asthma, behavioral health, diabetes, healthy weight, and oral health. The goals of this project were to gather contextual information from grantees regarding project design, implementation and the practicalities of delivering telehealth services in school settings. To assess the key differences between the types of modalities and methods of delivering telehealth services in the five focus areas, we collected primary data through semi-structured group interviews with key informants and school partners identified for all 21 SB TNGP. We also conducted a document review of grantee progress reports and initial applications to assist in defining models of school-based telehealth delivery employed and to inform interview questions. Evaluation of these interviews has resulted in several emergent themes in terms of the types of telehealth services being delivered, the number of students who have received services to date, and their performance on the identified RTRC SB TNGP measures. These observations, among others, will help to inform FORHP and future providers of telehealth in their efforts to improve the implementation and promotion of sustainable telehealth models