Access to health information is vital through ICT and people-ICT connections. For examples of Benefits of Broadband in health care in Illinois, see link below to Consumer Demand committee report of Illinois Broadband Deployment Council released in graphic-text form on July 24 in Chicago at Illinois house of representatives committee hearing on Digital Government.
Note Illinois rural healthnet project has been awarded 3 year FCC $21 million grant for rural ICT infrastructure connections among hospitals, health institutions and clinics, and with potential for connection with urban areas, as part of over $400 million in national Universal Service commitments (from phone user fees) pilot program in many states announced last December. The need now in all states is to generate matching funds to launch major ICT infrastructure efforts, including to provide fiber and wireless access to lower the costs of data intensive communications (e.g. radiology, cardiology, pediatrics, psychiatry) as well as to work with community health information outreach and health fair networks in underinvested areas. Many state departments of aging and health services work in annual online November-December signups for Medicare prescription insurance programs, and many persons go to senior centers and health outreach programs for online signups for this complex process. http://illinoisbroadbanddeployment.pbwiki.com/f/BDC_08_Committee_Reports .pdf Layton Olson Layton E. Olson, Esq. Howe & Hutton, Ltd. 20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 4200 Chicago, IL 60606 312-263-3001 Fax: 312-372-6685 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.howehutton.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen Snow Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:34 AM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: Re: [DDN] The Digital Divide and Human Health Access to information is essential to health -- planting information, weather information, straight-up health information (115 million people use the web in the US to get health information, according to Pew). In addition, most physical ailments (as shown in visits to primary care clinics) do not have an organic basis but have an emotional base -- making human connections and relationships vitally important as an aspect of human health. --Steve Snow [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- >From: Taran Rampersad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Aug 1, 2008 9:38 PM >To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group <digitaldivide@digitaldivide.net> >Subject: Re: [DDN] The Digital Divide and Human Health > >It is difficult to say that the digital divide and human health are >linked, in my opinion. Socioeconomic status affects both the digital >divide and human health. That said, sitting around on one's posterior >most of the day while eating fast food or microwaveable food most >certainly could be seen to demonstrate how decreasing the divide can be >linked to poor health. Improper equipment - and sometimes even proper >equipment - can lead to repetitive stress injuries such as the infamous >metacarpal tunnel syndrome. > >There are some that believe that human health can be increased through >empowering users. I tend to agree on the bunny slope. But on the >steeper, more slippery slopes this type of thinking can itself be >dangerous to one's health. Even Twain quipped that reading health >magazines could cause one to die of a misprint - on the Internet, that >is an even more serious issue since not only can anyone publish - anyone >does. While it is all well and good that people may read information on >the internet that can be helpful, this does not and should not replace >properly educated and trained members of the medical community. Reading >about placing a chest tube is quite different than doing it; diagnosing >a disease is something that people take years and years to learn how to >do - and these people, Medical Doctors, still sometimes make honest >mistakes despite their training. Should we expect better from those >without training? > >Technology, properly used, can facilitate health and quality of life. >Improperly used, it can do quite the opposite. > >And I haven't even really touched on the issue of children... a large >topic, indeed. > > >Ilan Tsekhman wrote: >> As promised here is the suggested conversation topic for August (a few >> days early!). >> >> That a myriad of socio-economic factors influence human health is well >> known. But how about the digital divide in particular? Are there >> implications on human health resulting from the digital divide? >> >> Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on the subject > >-- >Taran Rampersad >Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >http://www.knowprose.com >http://www.your2ndplace.com > >Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/knowprose/ > >"Criticize by creating." - Michelangelo >"The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine." - Nikola Tesla > >_______________________________________________ >DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list >DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net >http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide >To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. Stephen Snow, PhD, LPC Executive Director Collaborative Family Health Association www.cfha.net [EMAIL PROTECTED] 828-689-3615 828-689-5066 (c) "Nearly 70% of all health care visits have primarily a psychosocial basis." (Fries, et. Al 1993, Shapiro et al., 1985) _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
