Move knowledge, not patients: Building specialty access through telehealth & eConsults

Happy New Year from CTRC! As we step into 2026, rural clinics and hospitals across California continue to balance tight staffing, long travel distances, and rising specialty care demands. The solution isn’t always adding new service lines, it’s creating the right connections so patients can receive timely specialty support without leaving their community.

This month, we’re highlighting how rural first, regional digital health networks help teams keep care local through clear, repeatable workflows. When workflows are well designed, technology becomes the easy part, and regional care finally becomes predictable, scalable, and sustainable.

TOP UPDATES YOU CAN'T MISS

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: CTRC’s 14th Annual Digital Health Summit

CTRC invites healthcare innovators, researchers, and thought leaders to submit abstracts for the 14th Annual Digital Health Summit. This year’s theme focuses on how digital health and AI are transforming care delivery, strengthening teams, and driving sustainable change.

We welcome proposals that align with the summit theme and highlight practical strategies, implementation success stories, or research insights. Selected speakers will present to a diverse statewide and national audience. Visit the link to learn more.

Topics of Interest

• Rural Hospitals: Innovations and challenges in digital health adoption
• Healthcare AI: Opportunities and challenges in implementing artificial intelligence
• Tele-Nutrition: Expanding access and improving outcomes
• Combating Chronic Disease: Leveraging AI and digital tools for better outcomes
• Digital Health Policy & Payment: Navigating regulations and payment models

Registration for the summit opens soon—don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and lead the way in healthcare transformation.

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Telehealth as a Lifeline: Improving Maternal Health Outcomes

Maternal Health Day is more than a date on the calendar. It is a call to action to strengthen access to safe, high-quality care for mothers and families, especially those in rural and underrepresented communities. At CTRC, we see every day how telehealth plays a critical role in closing gaps in maternal care, improving continuity of services, and supporting healthier outcomes across the perinatal journey.

Learn how Telehealth Supports Maternal Health Across the Care Journey:

• Prenatal and postpartum check-ins
• Specialist consultations for high-risk pregnancies
• Behavioral and mental health support
• Remote monitoring for maternal health
• Culturally responsive and language-accessible care

From “Rural Bypass” to Regional Capacity: Building CA Hub-and-Spoke Specialty Care

Rural communities in California often face long travel times and limited specialty access, causing many patients to bypass local care. The state’s rural transformation efforts aim to reverse this pattern by building hospitalled hubandspoke networks supported by a strong digital infrastructure, including telehealth, eConsults, and remote monitoring. These strategies help rural clinics deliver timelier, coordinated care locally, reducing travel burdens and improving follow up.

Patients benefit from quicker, more coordinated specialty support delivered close to home. Learn more by reading the blog.

WEBINARS, SPARK-SESSIONS & ON-DEMAND LEARNING

CTRC Workflow Resources:

• General telehealth workflows (scheduling + consult flow charts)
• Clinic-to-clinic workflow template
• Video: Documenting workflows for telehealth services

Rural-First Digital Health Toolkits

• Executive QuickStart Guide: A leader’s rural-first digital health strategy
• Frontline Operations Playbook: For frontline teams using a rural-first digital health approach

Tools to Explore this Month

• Before you Buy or Build: Telehealth Technology Needs & Readiness Assessment
• Choose Equipment Based on Service Type: Equipment Selection Guide
• Business Model Development for FQHC/RHC/IHS: Sustainability worksheet
• Payment & Reimbursement Basics: Digital Health Payment Guide
• Everything CTRC: “All Resources” library

PATIENT CORNER

• Getting Care Through a Rural-First Regional Digital Health Network – Patient Handout: Discover what a Rural-First Digital Health Network means for patients
• Telehealth Specialty Provider List: Find a telehealth provider near you
• CTRC Patient Resources: Visit our Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions and learn Common Telehealth Terms

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The CTRC team is excited to connect with you! We’ll be at the 2026 Rural Health Symposium, hosted by the California Hospital Association, and also attending the 2026 California Rural Health Association Conference.

Looking forward to engaging with rural health leaders and sharing insights on telehealth and digital health innovation.

Keep an eye on upcoming CTRC events – View our Events Calendar