- Wireless Broadband Improvements Key to Rural Telehealth
- Broadband Supports Healthcare IoT Remote Connectivity, Volume
The project L.A.U.N.C.H. (Linking and Amplifying User-Centered Networks through Connected Health): A Demonstration of Broadband-Enabled Health for Rural Populations in Appalachia, focuses on areas that have high cancer mortality rates and little access to broadband.
“Through this strategic collaboration, we will work to bring the critical connectivity piece to the cancer puzzle,” Connect2Health Task Force Chair Michelle Ellison said in a statement. “Increasingly, broadband-enabled technologies are transforming the way cancer patients and survivors better manage, monitor, and treat their symptoms—helping them to live longer, better quality lives.”
“But for rural Americans with limited access to broadband, many of these connected care solutions are unavailable,” Ellison continued. “Better connectivity holds the promise of bringing first class care and treatment to anyone, anywhere.”
Broadband connectivity in rural areas has been a challenge for healthcare organizations over the years. Rural patients benefit from telemedicine programs but as providers continue to digitally transform their health IT infrastructure, caregivers depend more on digital tools that require network connectivity.
Clinicians visiting rural patients in their homes cannot use the patients’ home wired or WiFi network because the network may not be secure and is often unreliable. Areas with weak wireless signals often can’t support the bandwidth needed to use telehealth tools.
Rural patients can benefit greatly from telemedicine, however the lack of reliable broadband prevents them from getting the same quality of care the patient would get if they were able to travel to their provider.
Earlier this year AMIA released a letter urging the FCC to categorize broadband access among the social determinants of health as the FCC continues to develop policies and programs in the future.
“FCC has a critical role in ensuring that Americans benefit from the electronic health infrastructure that was initiated with the passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, and supported by the 21st Century Cures Act,” said AMIA
Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people live, grow, work, and age. They include socioeconomic status, education, employment, physical environment, and social support.
AMIA believes that social determinants include access to health information and care via broadband-enabled technologies.
The FCC released a public notice back in April seeking comments and data on actions to accelerate the adoption and accessibility of broadband-enabled healthcare solutions and advanced technologies.
The public notice stated that broadband networks are becoming more significant to individuals’ wellbeing and that maximizing network availability will enable all Americans to take advantage of 21st century healthcare.
The FCC is seeking information on how it can assist in the adoption and accessibility of broadband enabled healthcare solution, particularly in rural areas. The information will help the Commission identify specific areas where broadband connectivity is lacking.
Access to broadband is critical in rural areas as healthcare organizations continue to adopt digital tools that improve patient care. Without valid network connections to support digital tools, rural communities cannot experience the same quality of care as patients in urban areas do. Broadband is critical to the success of rural telemedicine.
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