Around 11.7 million U.S. families do not have at home web gain access to and roughly 5.5 million homes do not have a computer system, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s simply the start of a deep digital divide in this nation.
One huge concern in health care when it pertains to the digital divide: How can individuals in these homes get access to telemedicine? Virtual care can be a game-changer for individuals in rural neighborhoods and health care deserts. Even in metropolitan centers where there are lacks of professionals.
A current research study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research discovered telehealth is almost as efficient as in-person medical care check outs when it pertains to resolving client requirements. The digital divide avoids millions of U.S. families from accessing these hassle-free and important services at home.
Health care IT News took a seat with Megan Steckly, CEO of Compudopt, a nationwide not-for-profit working to resolve this problem by supplying households with complimentary gadgets, web connection and innovation training, so more Americans have access to this basic health care resource moving forward.
Q. Talk about the digital divide in the U.S. What does it appear like, and how does it play into telehealth?