The Hawaii State Department of Health is bringing telehealth resources to libraries in underserved communities.
The project is projected to cost $3.7 million and is funded by the CDC to mitigate COVID-19 health disparities, according to a July 26 news release.
Four things to know:
- The program is geared toward putting digital navigators and telehealth services in 15 libraries across the state. High school and college students will be employed to teach people how to use computers and the internet to access information about COVID-19, research health concerns and carry out telehealth visits.
- Private rooms and equipment will help support telehealth visits. For patients who have devices, but do not have an internet connection, the library will provide cellular hot spots that can be used at home.
- Mobile clinic vans will be set up in library parking lots to deliver in-person and virtual care. The vans will also be deployable to patients' homes to provide services.
- The telehealth program will launch this year, and the mobile clinics will start in 2022 when the vans arrive on the islands.