Neighborhood and Built Environment
Reliable internet service is no longer a luxury; it’ s a critical tool for accessing timely and effective healthcare. It empowers patients to become involved partners in their care. Individuals can schedule appointments, access test results, and communicate with providers to help manage their chronic conditions. Telemedicine, which became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, depends entirely on stable internet, allowing patients, especially those in underserved areas, to receive care from their homes. Without reliable / stable internet, there may be delays in healthcare, missed follow-up appointments, or disconnection from other health resources. Additionally, this digital divide can lead to adverse health outcomes and widen existing health disparities. 13
Figure 15 shows the percentage of households with an internet subscription. Most people across Washoe County( 90.5 %) have internet access at home.
FIGURE 15: HOUSEHOLDS WITH AN INTERNET SUBSCRIPTION: COUNTY, STATE, AND U. S. COMPARISONS
100 % 90.5 % 90.4 %
87.2 %
75 %
50 %
25 %
0 % Washoe County Nevada U. S. County, state, and national estimates: American Community Survey( 2019-2023)
13
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2030. https:// health. gov / healthypeople / objectives-and-data / browseobjectives / neighborhood-and-builtenvironment / increase-proportion-adults-broadband-internet-hchit-05
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