From Broadband to Better Health: Lessons in Telehealth and Digital Navigation
Thursday, October 8, 2026
03:20 - 04:20 PM
Room: TBD
Broadband connectivity is only the first step toward improving healthcare access—patients and providers also need the skills and support to fully benefit from digital health tools. This panel explores how Rural Health Care (RHC) Program investments have expanded telehealth in rural communities while highlighting the critical role of digital literacy and digital navigation in improving health outcomes. Drawing on lessons from Rural South Carolina and the partnership between digitalLIFT and the Kentucky Health Center Network (KHCN), panelists will share how standardized digital navigator training empowered frontline healthcare staff to support patients with telehealth, patient portals, and other digital health resources. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for integrating broadband, workforce development, and digital inclusion into a scalable model that expands access to care and advances health equity in rural and underserved communities.