Thomas Martin, Psy.D., ABPP
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Missouri-Columbia

Our nation is making great strides in harnessing the promise of health information technology to improve the quality, cost and availability of health care. One area this technology is transforming lives is in care provided to our veterans. At the University of Missouri School of Health Professions, experts are exploring new ways to utilize telehealth to provide services to returning military personnel who have incurred traumatic brain injury and psychological trauma.

It is estimated that an unprecedented number of returning troops who have been deployed to fight the Global War on Terror have incurred these injuries and are experiencing health related issues. For example, as many as 320,000 troops may have experienced a traumatic brain injury, while 300,000 service personnel may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. As a neuropsychologist in the University of Missouri School of Health Professions, I am researching telehealth as an efficient and effective avenue to provide specialized health care services that many of these service personnel may need.

We must be mindful that many veterans live in rural areas, and they may be confronted with traveling long distances to receive care. This travel can separate them from family, exacerbate their physical and psychological conditions, and contribute to financial hardship. Treatment interventions are more likely to be utilized when they are provided close to home and are easy to access. Moreover, family members who provide support and comfort to our returning troops may also benefit from services provided via telehealth. Many expect telehealth to become a very important tool that connects veterans and their families with beneficial treatment.

More widespread use of telehealth services depends on a robust communications infrastructure that supports these new technologies and links the appropriate health care providers with the people who may benefit from these services. Broadband is an essential tool to connect our veterans with services they need and deserve. There is much work to be done to ensure that the business community, community leaders, and lawmakers alike are working together to facilitate the development of a broadband infrastructure that will serve as a bridge to deliver needed services to our veterans.

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