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Date of Award
Spring 2026
Degree Name
Master of Public Health
Department
Community & Global Public Health; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Suzanne Redington, DrPH, MPH, CPH
Abstract
Background: Access to neurosurgical care is limited for some populations in the U.S. Utilization of remote healthcare can improve health equity for those with neurosurgical disorders. There is limited evidence regarding telemedicine in acute care neurosurgical practice.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how telemedicine is being used in urgent and emergent cranial neurosurgery and to categorize the outcomes reported in the existing literature to identify gaps and guide future efforts.
Methods: The literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost databases. Research selected included study designs that evaluated telemedicine methods and implementation through interaction type, function, and modality. Outcomes were synthesized based on the type of outcome reported and overall outcome observed.
Results: A total of 20 studies were included in the review. Telemedicine delivery methods varied across studies, with the majority of studies (n=18) using a synchronous method. Four outcome types were studied: cost, clinical, process, and satisfaction. All studies reported positive outcomes, while two studies reported positive and negative outcomes, and none reported only negative outcomes. Video technology was the most common (n=11) and the only platform with negative outcomes. Fewer studies were conducted in the U.S. than internationally, and all reported negative outcomes resulted from non-U.S. studies
Conclusion: Current research lacks sufficient data to suggest a standardized approach to telemedicine in neurosurgery. Future research must include comparative statistical analysis of telemedicine utilization in varied populations in the U.S. to better understand the impact of remote healthcare on population health.
Recommended Citation
Farley, Sophie M., "Telemedicine in Neurosurgery: Current Evidence, Patterns, and Research Gaps: A Systematic Literature Review" (2026). Capstone Showcase. 3.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2026/public_health/3
Telemedicine in Neurosurgery: Current Evidence, Patterns, and Research Gaps: A Systematic Literature Review
Background: Access to neurosurgical care is limited for some populations in the U.S. Utilization of remote healthcare can improve health equity for those with neurosurgical disorders. There is limited evidence regarding telemedicine in acute care neurosurgical practice.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how telemedicine is being used in urgent and emergent cranial neurosurgery and to categorize the outcomes reported in the existing literature to identify gaps and guide future efforts.
Methods: The literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost databases. Research selected included study designs that evaluated telemedicine methods and implementation through interaction type, function, and modality. Outcomes were synthesized based on the type of outcome reported and overall outcome observed.
Results: A total of 20 studies were included in the review. Telemedicine delivery methods varied across studies, with the majority of studies (n=18) using a synchronous method. Four outcome types were studied: cost, clinical, process, and satisfaction. All studies reported positive outcomes, while two studies reported positive and negative outcomes, and none reported only negative outcomes. Video technology was the most common (n=11) and the only platform with negative outcomes. Fewer studies were conducted in the U.S. than internationally, and all reported negative outcomes resulted from non-U.S. studies
Conclusion: Current research lacks sufficient data to suggest a standardized approach to telemedicine in neurosurgery. Future research must include comparative statistical analysis of telemedicine utilization in varied populations in the U.S. to better understand the impact of remote healthcare on population health.