Telemedicine a Potentially Healthy Benefit of Broadband Access

Virtual doctor measures blood pressure

For the upcoming July/August edition of BizVoice, I spoke with Smithville Fiber Executive Vice President Cullen McCarty about developments in broadband — both in Indiana and around the globe.

One aspect he mentioned was the significant impact on health broadband access could play for Americans living in rural areas as telemedicine capabilities increase.

“The importance is having the ability to stay at home and talk with your doctor from there, whether it’s through FaceTime or some type of interactive technology,” McCarty says. “You can have a doctor’s visit without a stethoscope. You can take blood pressure over a device and have that information shot back to the doctor.”

Fitbits and Apple Watches may also be able to transfer diagnostics to doctors as well, he adds, noting aging Hoosiers will need to take advantage of all avenues to increase medical efficiency.

“In Southern Indiana, a lot of hospitals and clinics are a far drive for some in rural areas, like Orange and Greene Counties,” McCarty offers. “It takes a lot of gas and money, so I think that’s where telemedicine will take off. Plus, you have specialists who read X-rays. An example we were given several years ago is that there are people in other parts of the country and the world who read X-rays, and they send it back to the doctor.”

He relays an example of someone getting an X-ray in Bloomington and having it sent to a radiologist who lives on a golf course in Texas.

“There are many different applications for telemedicine,” McCarty points out. “I think it’s a big driver in getting broadband into people’s homes who don’t see the value yet.”