New report highlights telehealth benefits for members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. (July 16, 2024) - Last week, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, in collaboration with Connected Nation Michigan (CN Michigan), released a report entitled, “Building Telehealth Equity: Insights from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.” Funded by a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, this report identifies ways that Tribal health clinics can expand their telehealth offerings, identify unmet demand, and address concerns that could discourage some Tribe members from using telehealth services.

Why telehealth matters

Telehealth is defined by the National Library of Medicine as “the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.”

Telehealth plays a vital role in rural Michigan, where access to in-person medical care can be limited, and many clinics are at risk of shutting their doors. Moreover, travel to and from these clinics can be onerous, with long distances to clinics and inclement weather during the winter months. To ensure that Tribe members (and rural Michiganders more broadly) can access these services, the region needs access to fast, reliable internet and internet-enabled devices.

Key findings

To better understand Tribe needs with regards to telehealth, CN Michigan researchers deployed a mail-in survey to all Tribe members and asked for their input. In total, 940 Tribal households submitted responses. After analyzing the data, some key findings emerged:

• 85% of responding households subscribe to home internet service; respondents over the age of 70 and those from households making less than $25,000 a year are less likely to have home internet than other demographic groups.
• Nearly 2 in 5 respondents (38%) have used telehealth services, and an additional 2 out of 5 (41%) have not used telehealth services but would consider doing so.
• Tribal households are generally unaware of the telehealth offerings available to them. Only 35% of respondents feel adequately informed about their options. Seven in 10 respondents are not sure if their insurance covers telehealth visits, while only 17% of respondents know that the Indian Health Service (IHS) covers telehealth services.
• Over one-third of respondents (34%) have an interest in accessing online tools and services for their health care, and an additional 37% say they might be interested, depending on the application.
• While respondents are interested in telehealth for different reasons, the most significant perceived benefits include the ability to schedule a same-day visit, receive a basic prescription or treatment plan, and avoid commutes to save money.

Recommendations

Following the research process, CN Michigan researchers and Tribal leadership identified some ways that telehealth services can be promoted to improve health equity for all Tribal households. This collaborative effort produced the following recommendations:

• Tribal health clinics can seek out ways to promote their telehealth services.
• Clinics should prepare all patients receiving telehealth to engage with their providers prior to the appointment.
• All health care providers in the region should provide training to medical staff to ensure Tribe members are met with cultural sensitivity.
• Tribal health clinics should create a systemwide online patient portal.
• Policymakers should continue to support efforts around the expansion of broadband infrastructure.

Implementing these recommendations should help Tribe members become more aware of telehealth offerings in their area and make telehealth services more accessible overall.

You can read the full report here. You can also find our related studies on telehealth here. To stay up-to-date about Connected Nation’s ongoing research into telehealth usage and barriers, be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or  X (Twitter).

Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation. 

About the Author: David Nunnally is a Research Analyst for Connected Nation. David is responsible for using qualitative and quantitative techniques to interpret survey data, in addition to collecting data from secondary sources to help support those findings. David works with internal and external stakeholders to help develop research and provide critical information in support of the Connected Nation mission.