A research team within the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine has been awarded a grant to create the Telehealth Outreach and Policy for Rural and Underserved Populations (TOP-UP) Rapid Response Center. The center will conduct rapid, policy-relevant data analysis and research studies to assess how different telehealth modalities impact health outcomes, making it the country’s first HRSA-funded center specializing in this work.
Over this five-year, $3.875M grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), TOP-UP leaders will address critical gaps in national data to help evaluate the cost-efficiency and effectiveness of telehealth for preventing and managing chronic disease in medically under-resourced areas.
“This center is designed to provide timely, data-driven insights that inform telehealth policy and practice,” said Tapan Mehta, Ph.D., the principal investigator and vice chair of research for Family and Community Medicine. “Our goal is to ensure that telehealth not only expands access but also improves outcomes for those who need it most.”
The demand for telehealth services continues to grow, especially in communities where transportation, provider shortages, and geographic isolation create barriers to care. Unfortunately, despite telehealth’s potential, more than 21 million Americans live in digital deserts, with 14 million residing in rural areas. Many lack broadband access or the digital literacy needed to navigate virtual platforms. Others, including older adults and people with disabilities, face additional challenges that current telehealth models often overlook.
TOP-UP Center Principal Investigator Tapan Mehta, Ph.D.TOP-UP responds to this evolving landscape by conducting short-term, issue-specific research studies, leveraging national datasets, and providing advanced analytics that will help providers, policymakers, and the public understand the real-world impact of telehealth practices, policies, and regulations.
Working alongside Mehta is a robust team of researchers and analytics experts that includes Navneet Baidwan, Ph.D., deputy principal investigator, and co-investigators Jeff Curtis, MD, MS, MPH, director of the Building and InnovatinG Digital HeAlth Technology and Analytics (BIGDATA) Administrative Core, and Bisakha Sen, Ph.D., vice chair of research for UAB’s School of Public Health. Scientist and research writer Rebekah Kummer will also serve an integral role as TOP-UP quickly disseminates their research findings and crafts policy briefs.
This team will examine how telehealth compares to in-person care in terms of health outcomes, access, and cost-effectiveness, while also identifying disparities in utilization and outcomes across different populations and geographic regions. With a focus on data-driven solutions and community engagement, the TOP-UP Center will help shape the future of telehealth in a way that is both effective and sustainable.
The center’s core research team will include experts in telehealth, epidemiology, health economics, and data science supported by experienced data analysts. This team is equipped to conduct advanced statistical analyses, including cost-effectiveness research and longitudinal data modeling, to support evidence-based telehealth policy recommendations. TOP-UP’s ability to integrate diverse data sources—like patient-reported outcomes, claims data, and clinical trial data will position the center to not only respond quickly to emerging policy questions, but also build the evidence base that will shape how telehealth is delivered nationwide.
The Department of Family and Community Medicine has a long-standing commitment to improving access to care through innovation and primary care research.
“With TOP-UP, the department is able to draw from our previous collaborations with the BIGDATA Methods and Informatics Core, National Center on Health and Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) Connect—as well as years of expertise in digital and telehealth research—to make this center come together effectively,” explained Mehta.
The Telehealth Outreach and Policy for Rural and Underserved Populations (TOP-UP) Rapid Response Center is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Federal award number 1 U6FTH55163‐01‐00.