Climate Change Telehealth can help rural and underserved kids access care » Yale Climate Connections – GWC Mag gwcmagDecember 9, 2023039 views Technology is making it easier for children with asthma to get the care they need. At some schools, they can now go to the nurse’s office for a telehealth visit with a provider many miles away. Katherine Chike-Harris at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing says it’s like any video call but on a computer connected to medical devices, such as an electronic stethoscope. Chike-Harris: “It’s plugged into the audio port of the computer and so we can actually listen to the heart and lungs.” Asthma affects about 5 million children in the U.S. And the risks are growing as climate change brings more wildfire smoke, more extreme heat, and a longer pollen season — all of which can aggravate symptoms. Managing severe asthma may require frequent doctor visits. But that can be a challenge, especially in rural and underserved areas. Families may have to drive long distances to get to a doctor. And parents may be unable to miss work or lack transportation. So school-based telemedicine helps eliminate some of the barriers to care. Chike-Harris: “It’s just really rewarding that you’re treating these kids’ asthma appropriately. … One child told me the other day, they’re like, ‘I can run and play now without coughing and having to stop to breathe.’” Reporting Credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media