Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Delaware Libraries Launch 3 Telehealth Kiosks, More To Come ▬ Technical.ly

Delaware Libraries Just Launched 3 Telehealth Kiosks in Sussex County, With More To Come

@DELibraries
Technical.ly: 5.11.2021 by Holly Quinn

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Delaware Libraries have evolved with the times, adapting to the rise of ebooks and focusing on the varying needs of the communities they’re in. That includes offering career and entrepreneur services, and lending a makerspace to help make face shields at the height of the COVID-19 PPE shortage as well as on Election Day.

The newest offering, launched today in three Sussex County libraries, are telehealth kiosks: Community members can come and receive safe, private virtual medical care, therapy sessions, or even things like job interviews, meetings with lawyers or immigration support.

Nick Martin, emerging technology consultant for Delaware Libraries, has been developing the project for several years now.

“This started as part of my Americorps VISTA project,” he said. “I came on board with the Libraries back in 2017, focused on STEM and emerging technology. I was looking at artificial intelligence and virtual reality, and how the libraries could leverage that. Telehealth came about because we have a pretty strong track record of access to social services in the Libraries, starting with the ’08-’09 job crisis, when [Delaware Libraries’ Statewide Social Innovator] Alta Porterfield spearheaded the jobs center.”

Then, around 2012, Delaware Libraries partnered with Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) to put social workers into the libraries.

“Pre-COVID we had 22 libraries with social workers,” said Martin. “We have a strong history there. There’s a behavioral health crisis happening. There’s a digital access crisis. And we have COVID, which is this proof of concept for telehealth. The kiosks are part of a larger initiative for better access to health and social services and technology.”

Martin says that, according to his research, this pilot project is the first library-led telehealth initiative in the country. The first three libraries to have the kiosks are Seaford Library, which is considered the hub for the pilot, as well as Milford Library and Laurel Library.

The kiosk program will expand throughout the state, starting this summer.  READ MORE ➤➤

 
Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 11
Reading Level: difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 15-17 yrs. old
(Tenth to Eleventh graders) 


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