JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – We all know Mississippi being a rural state brings about its own challenges. Healthcare deserts are one worsening problem.
The gap in services is only made worse by geography. But one new study suggests the solution may be right at our fingertips if broadband is better built out.
”It gives you a much better relationship with your patients because they know that they can, you know, see you more frequently without having to worry about where they’re gonna get gas money or someone’s gonna drive them there and so it eliminates that barrier,” said Coastal Family Health Center CMO Dr. Wendy Williams. “That is pretty profound here in Mississippi.”
Dr. Wendy Williams works at one of the community health centers on the coast. And she’s seen how telehealth opens up opportunities to better manage patient’s conditions.