By making home visits and helping patients use telehealth solutions, Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger is working to make sure patients stay connected to providers, according to The Daily Item.
Although many surrounding communities have ample access to the internet, the limited broadband access can make it a challenge sometimes for patients in rural areas to virtually see a provider. To make sure patients get the proper care, home health providers bring additional connected devices to visits with patients.
"We try to adapt to the environment we're serving," said David Fletcher, associate vice president of telemedicine at Geisinger, to The Daily Item. "For example, the Geisinger at Home nurses and team members frequently take MiFi (portable broadband devices that create a mobile hotspot) into the patients' home to increase their chances of having connectivity if they need to bring in another clinician over telemedicine. We're committed to providing access to care throughout our entire service area."
Geisinger physicians are also advocating for improving broadband services, especially in rural areas.