The Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (VAAAP) is a leading authority and advocate for the health and well-being of all children and adolescents in Virginia. They work to ensure that quality, equitable healthcare is accessible to every child.

VAAAP’s passion for accessible healthcare makes them a perfect partner for the Connect Everyone Coalition (CEC). The level of connectivity available to a family or a community has major impacts on healthcare access and quality. VAAAP’s advocacy work on key healthcare issues like food insecurity, mental health, school health and the accessibility of critical medical resources, such as telehealth, ties directly into CEC’s mission to advocate for bringing fast, affordable, reliable broadband to all areas and all communities.

Many rural areas are struggling with growing shortages of healthcare professionals and services. Too many communities have seen key facilities, including hospitals, succumb to financial challenges and close their doors. These troubling trends make alternative care pathways such as virtual care and telehealth even more important. But the rural and remote areas that need these alternatives are often the very same communities that traditional broadband technologies and infrastructure have left seriously underserved.

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband represents a game-changing connectivity option for rural communities. This makes it a game-changing advance in healthcare access as well. And that’s where CEC and VAAAP come together.

“We are excited to join CEC’s mission to ensure all communities have access to the resources available through reliable broadband. For example, here in Virginia, the lack of healthcare access in rural communities is a serious problem – nearly 30 percent of the Commonwealth’s population lives in Health Professional Shortage Areas,” said VAAAP’s Dr. Percita Ellis. “While expanding telehealth in these areas won’t solve the root problem, getting them connected to doctors online will ensure that Virginia’s families and children aren’t suffering the cost. Low Earth orbit satellites offer a quick, reliable way to accomplish this.”

LEO satellites orbit close to Earth in large arrays of small satellites, enabling them to reach homes and neighborhoods surrounded by difficult terrain or in remote areas where traditional broadband can be impractical or costly to install. And because connecting to LEO broadband requires no in-ground infrastructure for the user, it is the perfect option to connect these healthcare deserts in desperate need of online medical services.

“We are thrilled to have a group of doctors as part of our mission to connect everyone, everywhere,” said CEC Executive Director Richard Cullen. “VAAAP gets it. They intimately understand the cost of the digital divide, and their drive to support the mission to close the gap is underscored by an unwavering commitment to ensuring every child in Virginia has access to the healthcare they deserve.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Medical care is becoming increasingly difficult to access for rural Americans. Between 2013 and 2020, four percent of rural hospitals closed, leaving many residents about 20 miles farther from inpatient care. Telehealth services have quickly come online to help fill this gap, with 2021 reports showing that 37 percent of adults in the United States conducted doctor’s visits via telehealth. This number was even higher (43 percent) in adults above the age of 65.

LEO technology can help realize the full potential of this service by connecting the 24 million Americans, who the FCC reports have been left unconnected by terrestrial fixed broadband.