Geographic Disparities in Access to Broadband, Ambulance Services, and Health Care and Implications for Telehealth

This cross-sectional study found that 11.9 million people resided in BBDs, with 88.1% living in rural areas; rural households had lower broadband subscription rates than urban households. The findings suggest that broadband remains a critical determinant of health care access and that the potential of telehealth to mitigate gaps in primary, specialty, and emergency care is constrained by inadequate infrastructure and broadband subscription rates.

Corresponding Author: Yvonne C. Jonk, PhD, Department of Emergency Medicine, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405 (yvonne.jonk@med.uvm.edu).

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