Heartland Forward to expand telehealth access in Arkansas, Oklahoma

Heartland Forward, a Bentonville-based policy think tank, has launched an initiative to expand telehealth access in Arkansas and Oklahoma by teaching area librarians how to prepare residents for a telehealth visit.

The initiative has received combined support of more than $275,000 to expand training across the heartland. The Ford Foundation, the James M. Cox Foundation and the Public Library Association support the initiative that kicked off Wednesday (Oct. 2) with a training event at Fayetteville Public Library.

Angie Cooper, executive vice president at Heartland Forward, said the Ford Foundation provided a $250,000 grant to help create a training module with the Public Library Association and allow Heartland Forward to expand the module to 18 states across the heartland. A $25,000 gift from the James M. Cox Foundation will help support librarian training and expand the module across Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The Wednesday event was part of Heartland Forward’s multi-state, multi-pronged Connecting the Heartland initiative, launched in 2021 to help expand internet access across the heartland. The nonprofit defines the heartland as 20 central U.S. states, including Arkansas, and is focused on accelerating economic growth in states and communities in the region.

Cooper said a top economic issue is connecting the heartland to affordable high-speed internet. According to a news release, the Connecting the Heartland initiative is expected “to boost internet availability, affordability and adoption rates for participation in online services that are key to economic opportunity. Heartland Forward’s goal is to be a resource to states and communities by emphasizing affordability and adoption alongside expanding infrastructure.”

A Heartland Forward report shows 25% of counties surveyed in the region had a population-to-primary care physician ratio more than double the U.S. average. Telehealth is expected to help address the gap by allowing patients to visit health care providers using a computer, tablet or smartphone. This can be done at home, a clinic or a place with computers available, such as a library.

“You must have access to the internet to be able to utilize telehealth,” Cooper said. “Some people drive over 30 minutes to get to a hospital, and mothers – as it relates to maternal health and postpartum treatment – over 10% drive over 100 miles. So, telehealth can help solve this problem for people getting access.”

Tina Gabbard, Arkansas market vice president for Cox Communications, said some residents lack access to a vehicle or cannot take their children to a health care provider.

“As Cox continues to expand our areas of internet and broadband service, it’s important to not only make sure that we offer affordable internet programs for all, but we partner with the right organizations like Heartland Forward and businesses that use and require powerful technology to the full extent… This is a perfect partnership…to bridge that divide between health care and technology,” Gabbard said.

Gabbard said health care is a priority of the James M. Cox Foundation, which was named after the company’s founder.

“We are grateful for this $25,000 gift from the James M. Cox Foundation and the opportunity Cox Communications has been provided to partner with Heartland Forward to expand telehealth access in Arkansas and Oklahoma,” Gabbard said.

The release shows that to improve access to care and outcomes, “communities must increase patients’ and providers’ comfort levels and ability to use telehealth services. Increasing access to telehealth at scale is especially critical for seniors, people with chronic conditions and disabilities and those who live in rural communities far from health care providers.”

“Telehealth is a vital tool for improving how health care is delivered and accessed in the heartland,” Cooper said. “This is just one of many opportunities for improved health and economic outcomes by connecting the heartland to affordable high-speed internet. We’re excited to meet heartland communities where they are and are grateful to the James M. Cox Foundation for supporting today’s event and the Public Library Association and Ford Foundation for the creation of the module. Together, we look forward to making a meaningful difference in health care access and outcomes across the heartland.”

At the Wednesday event, librarians from the region learned about the online Telehealth DigitalLearn module, which teaches users how to access and prepare for a telehealth appointment. The module is available in English and Spanish and comprises a complete training package with slide decks, trainer scripts and handouts. It covers four lessons: introducing telehealth, navigating patient portals, technical requirements and the telehealth visit.

After the event, librarians can use the module to help residents learn more about telehealth and improve health care access across Arkansas. Cooper said Heartland Forward plans to host an additional librarian training session in Oklahoma and share the telehealth module with librarians across Arkansas and Oklahoma.

“It’s a great module,” Cooper said. “I, quite frankly, have learned from the module as well because it goes through what kind of internet speeds do I need to do a telehealth visit? What kind of insurance will cover my telehealth visit? Should I use my computer or my phone?”