To bridge the digital divide, national nonprofit offers free devices and internet
According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 11.7 million American households do not have internet access at home and approximately 5.5 million households do not have a computer. That's just the beginning of a deep digital divide in this country.
One big question in healthcare when it comes to the digital divide: how can people in these households achieve this? access to telemedicine? Virtual care can be a game changer for people in rural communities and healthcare deserts. Even in urban centers where there is a shortage of specialists.
A recent one study by the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research Research has shown that telehealth is nearly as effective as in-person primary care visits when it comes to meeting patients' needs. However, the digital divide prevents millions of American households from accessing these convenient and essential services at home.
Healthcare IT news spoke with Megan Steckly, CEO of Compudopt, a national nonprofit trying to address this problem by providing families with free devices, internet connectivity and technology training so that more Americans can access this fundamental healthcare resource in the future.
Q. Talking about the digital divide in the US. What does this look like and what impact does it have on telehealth?
A. Since the launch of the Internet in 1993, Western society has advanced exponentially. Thanks to smartphones, tablets, laptops, hotspots and home WiFi, most people's access to healthcare – including everything from health insurance to prescription refills to online therapy – is within reach. For millions of Americans, however, the reality is not so convenient.
According to the 2022 ACS data from the US Census Bureau, approximately 11.7 million American households do not have internet access at home and approximately 5.5 million households do not have a computer. Several factors contribute to this, including socio-economic status, geographical location and access to broadband infrastructure, as well as general education on the benefits of connectivity and building digital skills.
Without a device and reliable internet access at home, these households fall further and further below the poverty line as pursuing an education, applying for high-paying jobs, filing taxes, accessing online banking and more are out of reach. This great inequality is known as the digital divide.
While the digital divide existed long before 2020, the shift to virtual work, school, and healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic has further deepened the problem and exposed how vulnerable millions of Americans are when it comes to connectivity and digital access.
As physical offices closed, healthcare providers turned to telehealth, making access to mental and physical care out of reach for those without devices or reliable internet.
The height of the pandemic and the years that followed have proven that telehealth not only works, but will be an enduring source of primary care. According to a Kaiser Permanente study, telehealth can be just as effective as in-person primary care visits when it comes to meeting patients' needs. While the problem is extremely complex, the solution is clear: digital access results in healthier communities.
Q. Please talk about your nonprofit's mission as it relates to telemedicine and the digital divide.
A. Compudopt is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to provide access to technology and education to under-resourced youth and their communities. Founded in 2007, Compudopt has provided free devices, internet access, training, and support to hundreds of thousands of people in 40 cities and 19 states, and we're not slowing down anytime soon.
We are founded on the belief that digital access and education are the tools for real economic opportunity and mobility. Digital equality can become a reality for millions of Americans if we address its four fundamental components.
First, we work with individuals and business partners to refurbish gently used devices to the best industry standards and donate them to communities in need. Second, we're working to bring high-speed internet to homes across the country.
Third, we load age-appropriate games and digital literacy tools on every device to equip every user with education and information. Finally, Compudopt works with community partners, including schools, to offer classes that equip families with job-relevant skills to open doors to more opportunities and a better future.
Throughout our process, we work hard to educate communities about the benefits of connectivity and how they can benefit from it digital tools, such as telehealth, that have a positive impact on both the immediate and forward-looking future.
We've invested in closing the digital divide holistically, which means supporting our communities beyond device donations and free connectivity. Our community portal provides free technical support, resources and information about the Affordable Connectivity Program, as well as free or low-cost community services in healthcare, food, housing and more.
As the link between digital equity and healthcare accessibility becomes increasingly important to community well-being, Compudopt partners with leading healthcare organizations to provide comprehensive solutions to families and individuals across the country.
Q. What are the results you've seen so far from your efforts to increase access to telehealth?
A. To date, Compudopt has reached more than 317,000 people through free devices, free connectivity and free digital literacy training.
We've donated 89,000 computers, helped connect more than 6,200 households to free internet, and provided 305,000 hours of digital training to ensure families have the hardware, connections and educational resources to seamlessly navigate today's digital health environment .
Equipping families with critical resources is enough to inspire me to get out of bed every morning. The icing on the cake, however, is witnessing the snowball effect of other organizations also bridging a community need.
Adeeb Barqawi is the president and CEO of ProUnitas, a nonprofit organization that helps connect social, health, and education services to students in need. In an interview with Texas Monthly, Barqawi shares his experiences as an educator in Houston, where he witnessed first-hand the inequality in the classroom and the gap that existed between the services available and the families who need them.
To quote the article: “Kids came in hungry. I called and found out the food bank had a program. Kids needed a computer. There's Compudopt, a nonprofit that provides free computers to Texas students in need. As time goes on passed, I would coordinate more services for my students. I also saw my students' scores increase and my classroom environment was better.”
Barqawi's story is just one example of how our students and their communities thrive when given the opportunity – and the resources – to do so. As Compudopt introduces our services to new markets, we are purposefully expanding into regions that need our services most, including access to healthcare.
As we look to 2024, we hope to collaborate with even more like-minded organizations, serving as many people as possible, in as many cities as possible, for healthier, happier communities.
Q. What can others in healthcare do to bridge the digital divide and increase access to virtual care?
A. Every solution starts with education. We all have a role to play in sharing information and resources about the digital divide and its impact on crucial aspects of our lives, such as healthcare. The first step people in the healthcare industry can take is to learn more about the problem itself, and the impact it has on their neighborhood or service area. We then invite professionals to share that knowledge with their colleagues and network.
Once healthcare providers are exposed to the problem and solutions, we encourage open dialogue with patients. By taking a few minutes to talk about a patient's digital tools, providers can better make recommendations, referrals, or even create a customized care plan.
If Compudopt serves your communitywe encourage physicians to refer patients to our team to learn more about the resources available to them.
Another way to bridge the digital divide is to recycle your used devices. We invite professionals to introduce your employer to Compudopt as a solution for old devices, or make a plan to donate your personal devices the next time you choose to upgrade. By giving devices a second life, we have a positive impact on local communities and our collective environment.
Finally, Compudopt is always looking for new corporate partners and volunteers to help us reach more communities with the power of connectivity. Whether it's financially supporting local device distributions or volunteering at a skills-building course, every action advances our mission toward a more equitable future.
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