EPI Talks: Rural Health-EpiTalkRuralHealth

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This webinar explored how rural location and other social determinants create major disparities in epilepsy care. The presenter argued that where someone lives should not determine access to diagnosis, treatment, surgery, or emergency care. Data show rural patients often have fewer neurologists and epileptologists nearby, lower rates of EEG and specialty referral, longer distances to pharmacies and epilepsy centers, and higher risks of delayed diagnosis, medication nonadherence, status epilepticus, longer hospital stays, and mortality. Surgical care is especially underused in rural and disadvantaged populations, though outcomes after surgery can be comparable once patients receive it.<br /><br />The talk also highlighted solutions. Telemedicine reduces missed visits and performs similarly to in-person care for many outcomes. Home video, home medication delivery, ambulatory EEG, point-of-care EEG in emergency settings, and wearables can all reduce distance and access barriers. Artificial intelligence may help with diagnosis, EEG and MRI interpretation, surgical prognostication, and—future work—identifying social barriers and disadvantage. The session concluded that the main challenge is no longer proving epilepsy care works, but ensuring everyone can reach it.

Keywords

epilepsy care

rural health disparities

telemedicine

diagnosis access

surgical care

EEG monitoring

artificial intelligence