Evaluation of rural public libraries to address telemedicine inequities

PB DeGuzman, Z Siegfried… - Public Health …, 2020 - Wiley Online Library
Public Health Nursing, 2020Wiley Online Library
Access to home‐based telemedicine is inequitably distributed in the United States due to the
limited reach of fixed broadband in rural areas. Public libraries typically offer patrons free
access to broadband. Libraries, particularly those in rural regions, need to be evaluated as
sites for patients to connect to a health care provider over a video visit. The purpose of this
research was to evaluate the technological readiness of public libraries to provide
telemedicine support and to determine differences in readiness between rural and urban …
Abstract
Access to home‐based telemedicine is inequitably distributed in the United States due to the limited reach of fixed broadband in rural areas. Public libraries typically offer patrons free access to broadband. Libraries, particularly those in rural regions, need to be evaluated as sites for patients to connect to a health care provider over a video visit. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the technological readiness of public libraries to provide telemedicine support and to determine differences in readiness between rural and urban public libraries. We distributed a survey to Virginia librarians to evaluate technological readiness of their libraries to support telemedicine. Respondents from 39 libraries completed the survey, approximately one third of which were in rural or small urban areas. All reported fixed broadband, at least four computers, and staff to assist with technology. Eighty‐five percent of surveyed libraries reported sufficient broadband speed and a private room available to patrons. There were no significant differences between rural and urban status for any of the library characteristics. Virginia public libraries may have infrastructure necessary to support patrons connecting to telemedicine. Libraries may benefit from systematic guidelines for collaborating with health providers to support telemedicine implementation across geographic and socioeconomically diverse areas.
Wiley Online Library
以上显示的是最相近的搜索结果。 查看全部搜索结果