Expansion of Rural Telehealth Services: Businesses and Government Strive to Bridge Digital Divides
In an effort to bridge the digital divide in rural regions, Microsoft's Airband Initiative is making significant strides in expanding telehealth access. By 2022, the program aims to connect two million rural Americans with a combination of fiber optics and wireless broadband technologies, including TV white space spectrum.
The TV white space technology, which utilizes unused broadcast spectrum, allows internet to reach hard-to-wire rural homes, addressing a critical digital divide where about 35% of tribal populations lacked internet access. Partnerships with local entities, such as Native Network on tribal lands in Montana and Washington, have extended broadband to over 70,000 residents.
The enhanced connectivity enables rural healthcare workers and patients to access telehealth services, medical information, and digital tools crucial for modern healthcare delivery. Remote consultations, access to electronic health records, and healthcare AI tools, which are vital in areas where medical resources are scarce or distant, are now within reach.
Numbers4Health, a telehealth company, has also received a grant from Microsoft's Airband Grant Fund to expand rural telehealth access in three states. The program, called the Connected Care Pilot Program, will work alongside improved funding for the Rural Health Care Program.
The U.S. government has also approved $100 million in funding for a program aimed at building out telemedicine access for underserved patients in rural areas. This funding, combined with initiatives like the Microsoft Airband Initiative, is expected to significantly improve telehealth access in rural America.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr stated that technology can now deliver care directly to patients through remote patient monitoring and mobile health apps. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel called for a revamp in broadband standards to match the speeds necessary for rural telehealth, suggesting 100 megabits per second as a target.
Microsoft, along with other companies, is among those seeking to boost telemedicine availability in rural regions. The company's head of technology and corporate responsibility, Shelley McKinley, stated that Numbers4Health's use of innovative technologies like TV white spaces will help improve healthcare access in rural Maine.
In addition to improving telehealth access, the Microsoft Airband Initiative also supports rural healthcare operational needs, such as office automation and better telecommuting options for healthcare staff. The program is a five-year plan aimed at connecting 23.4 million rural Americans by 2022.
In conclusion, the Microsoft Airband Initiative is a significant step forward in expanding telehealth access in rural America. By utilizing TV white space technology and partnering with local networks, the program is making a tangible difference in the lives of rural Americans, enabling them to access the healthcare they need.
Science and health-and-wellness intersect in the Microsoft Airband Initiative, as improved telehealth access in rural America enables rural healthcare workers and patients to access digital tools and telemedicine services crucial for modern healthcare delivery. This includes remote consultations, access to electronic health records, and healthcare AI tools, which are vital in areas where medical resources are scarce or distant. The program's focus on technology, particularly TV white space spectrum, aligns with the need for faster broadband speeds, as suggested by FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, to meet the standards necessary for rural telehealth.
