The Ka'u Rural Health Community Association's Resource and Distance Learning Center in Pahala, Hawaii, now hosts a telehealth kiosk.
The kiosk, which was donated by American Well and the Hawaii Medical Service Association, will allow community members to speak with physicians via video consultation. The program's goal is to make healthcare more convenient for rural Hawaiians; for an in-person physician visits, Ka'u district residents would often travel one to two hours to reach a medical clinic.
The kiosk donation also establishes a new internship to teach clinical support staff — such as certified nurses' aides, community health workers and practical nurses — how to educate rural residents on the benefits of telemedicine.