1 of 10

2 of 10

Key Barriers to Rural Healthcare

  • Geography

​

  • Stigma/Safety

​

  • Technology Limitations

​

3 of 10

Implementation and Evaluation

  • Key elements to addressing healthcare disparities must include (CDC, 2016): 

​

  • (1) innovation, 
  • (2) a technical package including synergistic and goal-focused approaches, 
  • (3) central management including real-time monitoring, feedback, and evaluation, 
  • (4) partnerships between public and private organizations, 
  • (5) effective communication, and 
  • (6) political commitment to support and resources.

4 of 10

  • A counselor and a librarian sit around a conference table…

5 of 10

Public Access Telehealth Spaces �(PATHS)

  • Goals
  • 1. Address healthcare equity by creating originating sites for community access to healthcare in stigma-free environments. 

​

  • 2. Enhance an inclusive provider network for coordination of care, communication between organizations, and greater awareness of resources for community members. 

​

  • 3. Support partners in guiding implementation of telehealth in community spaces.

6 of 10

PATHS Core Components

Education

  1. Partnerships to offer community health education.
  2. Provider education and consultation.

Prevention

  1. Health fairs in library and community spaces.
  2. Health and prevention programming.
  3. Health information resource centers in libraries.
  4. Suicide prevention training for library staff.

Intervention

  1. HIPAA-secure and ADA-compliant telehealth access in libraries and other community spaces.
  2. Connection to specialty services for rural and vulnerable communities via telehealth.
  3. Equity in healthcare access with visibility of provider options via a statewide telehealth network.

7 of 10

How Does it Work?

LIBRARY SITES SUPPORT…

    • Broadband access

​

    • Secure location

​

    • IT Support

​

    • Online scheduling for use of space

​

    • Data reporting

TELEHEALTH NETWORK SUPPORTS…

    • Provider awareness and support for public awareness marketing

​

    • Outcomes evaluation

​

    • Provider education for telehealth

​

    • Grant writing and management

8 of 10

Current Identified Sites In Wyoming

​

Funded

  1. Cody Library (Park County)
  2. Casper Library (Natrona County)
  3. Sheridan Library (Sheridan County)
  4. Washakie Library
  5. Tensleep Library
  6. Rawlins Library

9 of 10

Network Partners

10 of 10

Collaborate with PATHS

​

​

  • Dr. Amanda DeDiego, LPC, NCC, BC-TMH
  • Project Director
  • adediego@uwyo.edu 

​

  • �