From Hospitals to Hallways: Building Virtual Care That Works in Rural Communities

Oklahoma State University Medicine is taking a pragmatic, mission-driven approach to virtual care, one designed for rural reality, not ideal conditions. In this episode of Access Amplified, we sit down with Jared Droze, Director of Virtual Care at OSU Medicine, and Dr. Brad Anderson, Internal Medicine Physician and Medical Director of Virtual Care, to explore how OSU is using virtual care to keep patients closer to home while supporting hospitals, clinicians, families, and entire communities across rural Oklahoma. 

When most people think about virtual care, they picture video visits replacing in-person appointments. But at Oklahoma State University, virtual care is something much bigger — a distributed ecosystem designed to keep care local in a largely rural state. 

In this conversation, Jared Droze and Dr. Brad Anderson share how OSU built a virtual hospitalist program that supports rural and critical access hospitals with real-time clinical expertise. By combining direct virtual patient evaluations with consultative support, OSU has helped hospitals reduce unnecessary transfers, increase clinical confidence, and keep patients closer to their families, all while strengthening hospital sustainability. 

The episode also explores how OSU has extended virtual care beyond hospital walls. From urgent care clinics that use virtual clinicians to improve patient flow, to school-based virtual care programs that help kids get treated without leaving school, OSU is rethinking where and how care can happen. Across every model, the goal remains the same: meet patients where they are, reduce friction, and design virtual care that works in the real world. 

Watch the live recording

Meet Dr. Brad Anderson and Jared Droze

Dr. Bradley Anderson 

Bradley Anderson is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician with a background deeply rooted in rural Missouri. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health Science, specializing in Radiology, from Missouri Southern State University. Following that, he pursued his medical education at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine in North Carolina, followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at Oklahoma State University. 

His career journey led him to join the faculty at Oklahoma State University, where he now serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and hold multiple administrative roles including Medical Director of Virtual Care, Vice Chair of the OSUMC Internal Medicine Department, and Medical Director of the Hospitalist at Cleveland Area Hospital. His commitment lies in bridging the healthcare gap in underserved communities, particularly through the innovative avenue of Virtual Care, ensuring that specialized medical expertise reaches those who need it most. 

Jared Droze 

With over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, Jared has successfully driven innovation and growth across hospital, outpatient, academic, and virtual care settings. Skilled in strategic operations, physician alignment, and performance management, he has consistently improved financial performance, patient outcomes, and team cohesion in both non-profit and for-profit environments. Currently serving as the Director of Virtual Care at OSU Medicine, Jared is passionate about leveraging technology and collaborative strategies to enhance healthcare accessibility and delivery. Jared holds a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Oklahoma State University – Center for Health Sciences and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.