The models that work best are when we have physicians dealing with individuals who have an ongoing relationship. One-off consults are not the same as having a family doctor or nurse practitioner. We know this. When we have people working from a distance, they are often completely unaware of what the situation is on the ground—for instance, how far people might have to travel for a given investigation or blood work.
If it's not okay to do it in the city, it's not okay to do that rurally. Having virtual ER doctors might sound nice, but if they can't put in a chest tube, which you can't over a video conference, that is not an adequate replacement for a service. We need people with life-saving skills in the community.