Slow Broadband Still Hinders Telehealth in Rural Areas

The useful part

By Crystal Lindell Unfortunately, the same issue that makes it difficult for some people to access doctors in person can also make it difficult for them to access doctors via telehealth: living in a rural area. A new study found that nearly 12 million Americans in 41 states lack access to broadband internet sufficient enough to access telehealth appointments — 88% of whom live in rural areas. Researchers at the Universities of Vermont and Southern Maine say these "broadband deserts" or BBDs have broadband connections slower than 100/20 megabits per second.

How it works

• "This cross-sectional study found persistent broadband disparities across 41 states, especially in rural areas of the South and West, where limited internet infrastructure and broadband subscription rates...
• Their study, published in JAMA, also identified "ambulance deserts" (ADs) and "healthcare deserts" (HCDs) in the United States.
• Nearly 950,000 people live in AD and HCD areas, but have sufficient broadband for telehealth.
• About 650,000 people live in areas that lacked all three: broadband, ambulance services, and healthcare.
• Western states were the most impacted by these issues, and had the highest percentage of rural residents living in BBDs (32%).

What to take from it

Just because you live in a rural area doesn't make you technologically illiterate. About 95% of rural households have a computing device and 88.5% have a broadband subscription. "While broadband availability and subscriptions are prerequisites for telehealth, its presence does not inherently guarantee use.

Details worth keeping

Their broadband speeds are modest compared to urban areas.