Virginia Telehealth Network

Expanded Broadband Access Will be Game-Changer for Telehealth in Rural Virginia

President Biden announced a massive new federal law that promises to give millions of Americans – finally – access to broadband. It’s an initiative with wide-ranging implications. Just as the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 connected rural America to the electrical power grid, bringing electricity into their homes for the first time, the Broadband Equity, […]

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How Virginia Health Catalyst is Expanding Teledentistry in Virginia’s Public Schools

Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. Untreated cavities can lead to pain, infection, missed school time, and even trouble eating, talking, or socializing. Despite the importance of oral health, not all children have equal access to dental care. But now, new advances in virtual dentistry is helping change that. […]

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Dental Care During Class: Community Health Center of the New River Valley Brings Teledentistry to Public School Systems

In the New River Valley region, one out of six people don’t have access to regular transportation. Additionally, the area isn’t abundant with medical or dental providers, and many practices don’t accept Medicaid, specifically in the dental field. To help address these issues, the Community Health Center of the New River Valley (CHCNRV) launched a […]

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An Unlikely Legacy of Telemental Health from far Southwest Virginia

In marketing speak, Rick Mitchell is what we call an “early adopter,” the kind of consumer that is often a pioneer in embracing new technologies. They’re the folks who aren’t afraid to try new products and then let the rest of us know that it’s fine to jump in after them, that the water is […]

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Taking an Equity Lens to Telehealth in Your Practice

image of doctor using telehealth

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many physicians and healthcare organizations have turned to telehealth to address patients’ care needs. While critical to preventing the virus’s spread and preserving personal protective equipment, this move can exacerbate an equity gap in care for some. The federal government has implemented programs that provide more latitude for physicians […]

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In the News: Equity & Telehealth Updates

doctor using device

Curating the latest updates, news and announcements related to telehealth in the U.S. Telemedicine has proven to be a valuable tool for bringing care to underserved communities, but access to telehealth services can be influenced by many factors across the nation, like access to broadband. Efforts to address these gaps are being made to ensure […]

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Telehealth Growing Pains: Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance Strives to Maintain Its Pandemic-Fueled Momentum

image of a young girl sitting on a couch and reading

When the Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance (BRTA) was created about seventeen years ago, there was a pioneering spirit among the member healthcare providers serving Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. At the time, the promise of telemedicine helping expand access to care and reducing health disparities was still more aspirational than practical. After all, there […]

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Expanding access to broadband in the Commonwealth

image of hands using a touchscreen

While telehealth is an instrumental tool in expanding access to health care for underserved localities, demographics and others in need, it’s nearly impossible to conduct without access to broadband – for both providers and patients. And in today’s day and age, it is an essential need for quality living. That’s why the state of Virginia […]

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Equity in Telehealth: Addressing Areas in Need

image of a family looking at a laptop together

Improving telehealth means ensuring there is equity at every level. Tools, technology and processes must be accessible and customized to meet the needs of all patients. The technology providers use also should offer enhanced options and have translation capabilities for those with a language barrier. Another way physicians can improve telehealth is by digitizing paper […]

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Equity & Telehealth: An intro with Dr. Sadiq Patel

Dr. Sadiq Patel

As part of Virginia Telehealth Network’s commitment to serving those who need it most, we kicked off our Equity & Telehealth initiative with an introductory webinar led by Dr. Sadiq Patel, NIMH Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School within the Department of Health Care Policy. During this session, Dr. Patel introduced to our members […]

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