Reliable Access to the internet
Access to reliable broadband service, also known as reliable high-speed internet.
Reliable internet access allows productivity, connectivity, and the ability to participate in digital aspects in day-to-day life. It is crucial for seamless communication, access to information, education, and staying updated on current events. If reliable internet is absent, it causes health inequality and significant impact on one’s health. It would be detrimental in having access to valuable health information, forbid telemedicine for remote consultations, and supporting health monitoring through devices and online tools.
Reliable access to the internet has a great impact on health outcomes and access to healthcare because a lot of the care being offered is through telehealth. The importance of reliable access to the internet and telehealth were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, there were temporary changes made to the Medicare program (VanderWerf et al., 2022). During the COVID-19 pandemic there was more funding for telehealth, removal of geographic and site location requirements, reimbursements for all telehealth services, and expanding modalities used to provide telehealth access (VanderWerf et al., 2022).
Key Points and Resources
References
About MyChart | MyChart. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2023, from https://www.mychart.org/About
Anderson, E. A. V., Andrew Perrin, Lee Rainie and Monica. (2020, April 30). 53% of Americans Say the Internet Has Been Essential During the COVID-19 Outbreak. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/04/30/53-of-americans-say-the-internet-has-been-essential-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/
Benda, N. C., Veinot, T. C., Sieck, C. J., & Ancker, J. S. (2020). Broadband Internet Access Is a Social Determinant of Health! American Journal of Public Health, 110(8), 1123–1125. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305784
Division (DCD), D. C. (12 C.E., February 9). Who’s eligible for Medicare? [Text]. https://www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and-medicaid/who-is-eligible-for-medicare/index.html
FCC. (n.d.). Affordable Connectivity Program | Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 4, 2023, from https://www.fcc.gov/acp
FCC. (2020, June 8). 2020 Broadband Deployment Report | Federal Communications Commission. https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progress-reports/2020-broadband-deployment-report
Joseph, N. P., Hider, A. M., Conteras, D., Velasquez, D. E., & Martin, A. (n.d.). Bridging the Digital Divide Through On-site, Health Center–Based Internet Clinics | NEJM Catalyst. Retrieved December 4, 2023, from https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.23.0099
Turcios, Y. (2023, March 20). Digital Access: A Super Determinant of Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/digital-access-super-determinant-health
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). Home—Universal Service Administrative Company. Retrieved December 4, 2023, from https://www.lifelinesupport.org/
VanderWerf, M., Bernard, J., Barta, D. T., Berg, J., Collins, T., Dowdy, M., Feiler, K., Moore, D. L., Sifri, C., Spargo, G., Taylor, C. W., Towle, C. B., & Wibberly, K. H. (2022). Pandemic Action Plan Policy and Regulatory Summary Telehealth Policy and Regulatory Considerations During a Pandemic. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health, 28(4), 457–466. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2021.0216