ATA launches tool to benchmark U.S. telehealth, digital access
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has introduced its enhanced Digital Infrastructure Score (DIS) and Mapping Tool, a first-of-its-kind resource designed to measure the readiness of United States communities for digital access and telehealth adoption.
Benchmarking digital health readiness
The new tool assesses critical infrastructure factors, including broadband availability, internet speed, device access, and affordability. It assigns weighted scores that reflect how these elements impact the real-world use of virtual care and digital health services. A heatmap interface allows stakeholders to compare ZIP codes and counties, with drill-down options for deeper analysis.
“As the nation continues to grapple with an unrelenting pressure on key hospital infrastructure in rural and urban America alike, digital solutions will become increasingly critical in facilitating access to key services,” said David Smith, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Third Horizon Strategies and advisor on the project.
Smith explained that the DIS offers a first-of-its-kind comprehensive assessment of the key components required for digital solutions as physical access points evolve.
For hospitals, insurers, and policymakers, the DIS offers data-driven insights to inform investments, policy proposals, and grant applications. It also provides an evidence base for rural states and underserved areas to plan for digital transformation, helping to close gaps in patient engagement and health equity.
Outsourcing implications in healthcare access
The ATA highlighted the collaborative nature of working on this project as part of a larger outsourcing trend in healthcare, leveraging outside expertise to drive innovation and efficiency.
The group also collaborated with its CEO Advisory Group on Expanding Access to Healthcare, refining the tool further by providing additional datasets and better visualization tools.
“By building on the original frameworks developed by our CEO advisory group, we were able to incorporate additional data sets, develop enhanced data visualization tools, and improve the design interface and user experience for these tools,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA.
This joint outsourcing strategy is a trend observable in both healthcare and technology, whereby cross-industry partnerships and outside advisory boards help businesses accelerate their digital agendas.
Just as hospitals and insurers routinely subcontract information technology functions and analytics to specialists, ATA utilized advisory expertise and a grant from the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) to bring the DIS to life.
In designing an evidence-based, user-friendly shared platform, ATA aims to empower societies, policymakers, and healthcare leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions about the deployment of digital health.
“Our Digital Infrastructure Score and Mapping tool makes digital readiness visible and empowers health, policy, and community leaders to make smarter, more informed decisions,” Johnson emphasized.
