NNLM Discovery | Telehealth Kiosks (Audio Described Version)

Since the onset of Covid we have all grown accustomed to virtual meetings and remote services. But what if you don’t have a cell phone or a computer at home? What if you are experiencing homelessness but need to attend a job interview? This episode is about bridging the economic and digital divide.
Non-Audio Described Version - • NNLM Discovery | Teleh...
On this episode of the NNLM Discovery podcast, Region 1 Outreach and Education Librarian, Faith Steele, tells us about an exciting project in Delaware where they are installing teleservices kiosks in libraries across the state. These kiosks provide a private space for anyone who needs access to a secure and reliable internet connection.
You can listen to the podcast here on the NLM RUclips Channel - • NNLM Discovery Telehea...
The NNLM is the outreach arm of the National Library of Medicine with the mission to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving the public's access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health. The seven Health Sciences Libraries function as the Regional Medical Library (RML) for their respective region, with Region One consisting of: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
To learn more about Region 1 visit: www.nnlm.gov/about/regions/re...
All of the artwork for this podcast series has been created with a generative AI image-to-image tool! The prompt for this episode was “paint me an abstract picture of a white box kiosk that’s exploding with information with a silhouetted person using a laptop computer inside a library.”
Transcript:
[Upbeat music]
[Alta Porterfield]
Delaware is a great state. We are a state that has a lot of resources, but also a lot of inequity. When it comes to opioid deaths, when it comes to high anxiety, and depression, we're not in great shape. Our lack of clinical providers.
As well as other professionals, especially downstate, is really severe.
[Annie Norman]
So Teleservices are using the technology infrastructure of the libraries, so that an individual can meet with a health professional remotely. And we have telehealth booths or small meeting rooms that are set up for these services.
[Faith Steele]
Being able to come in here to a telehealth booth and have your appointment, and meet with someone, and still get your health needs met is a big deal. When you either don't have a car or you don't have the resources, or maybe you just don't even have the time to actually travel an hour and a half to go meet someone.
[Salena Carrillo]
So these private spaces, you can do any virtual visit, whether it's a job interview, a legal appointment, telehealth visit. And I think libraries are the perfect place for these programs.
[Faith Steele]
So behind us is one of the kiosks here that Delaware is using for their telehealth services. And it does just look like an empty box. But once they go in there, you're not going to be overheard talking to your doctor. You're going to have that privacy that you need. You're going to have everything you need to be able to do your virtual visit.
[Alta Porterfield]
The Teleservice Specialists are people that listen, people that care, people that want to help. And building that relationship is very important in order for it to work.
[Stephanie Keough]
And what's great about it is the library can focus on the library piece. And then when we come in, we can focus on, you know, the basic needs and the teleservices part. We have great programs with our partners, so we'll set the appointments up for our patrons to use the kiosk to get in contact with those partners.
[Annie Norman]
And the goal is that we have these telehealth and teleservices in all libraries in the state and every library in the state. So the NNLM grant, we're very appreciative, because they enabled us to purchase kiosks for the Newark Library and the Dover Public Library.
[Salena Carrillo] And they are stationed currently at two of our busiest libraries. And just seeing the differences that we're making in the patrons lives that we come across, it's very rewarding. I hope to see this program flourish forever. So thank you NNLM.
#telehealthcare #audiodescription