ILD Care: Rural Access Barriers
- Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rural areas frequently enough face significant challenges in accessing adequate care, according to a study in CHEST Pulmonary.
- More than half of the surveyed health care providers (57%) reported that their rural patients experienced longer waits for a diagnosis.
- Telehealth is emerging as a facilitator for ILD care, with about 30% of providers using it for virtual visits and patient messaging.
Rural Interstitial Lung Disease Patients Face Care Gaps; Telehealth Offers Hope
Updated June 7, 2025
Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rural areas frequently enough face significant challenges in accessing adequate care, according to a study in CHEST Pulmonary. The research highlights disparities in diagnosis and treatment compared to urban patients.
More than half of the surveyed health care providers (57%) reported that their rural patients experienced longer waits for a diagnosis. Almost half (47%) noted delays in treatment. Limited access to diagnostic tests, such as lung function tests and labs, along with scarce pulmonary rehabilitation and home oxygen services, contribute to these delays.
Telehealth is emerging as a facilitator for ILD care, with about 30% of providers using it for virtual visits and patient messaging. Telehealth also expands access to support groups and other services. Researchers emphasize the promising implications of telehealth in bridging the care gap for rural patients with pulmonary fibrosis and other ILDs.
The study also revealed that 73% of responses cited poor access to care as a major issue. Patients often must travel long distances to see specialists. A lack of resources to coordinate care, including difficulties in obtaining timely test results and a shortage of local providers, further compounds the problem.
“The emergence of telehealth as a facilitator to ILD care in our study has promising implications,” the researchers said.
While some research suggests that rural ILD patients do not necessarily experience worse outcomes, other studies indicate higher mortality rates in rural and smaller metropolitan areas. One study found mortality rates 14% to 16% higher compared to large metropolitan areas.
What’s next
The study authors call for further research to understand the barriers perceived by rural patients and their local providers. They suggest clinical and research partnerships to improve equitable access to ILD care for rural patients.