NORTHFIELD — Fiction, nonfiction, periodicals, telehealth … telehealth?
The Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield is among 152 depositories across the state that will become a hub of medical information as the New Jersey State Library administers a statewide telehealth program. The Ocean City Free Public Library and the Linwood Library also will be taking part.
Karen Parry, program administrator for NJHealthConnect @ Your Library, said libraries are playing a growing role in advancing public health.
“People come to learn, so libraries have to look at that as an important role they are going to play,” Parry said, noting hospital focus groups have found that lack of access to medical professionals — whether due to financial or temporal reasons — and language barriers are the greatest hurdles many have to overcome when seeking health care.
According to information at njstatelib.org, NJHealthConnect @ Your Library — which launched in late January — will provide access to health care services through public libraries across the state.
Otto Bruyns librarian Aubrey Hiers said circulation and visits have dropped significantly at libraries across the country since the COVID-19 pandemic began in spring 2020. She has been trying to increase interest through programming — resuming events such as Mahjong Mondays and Story Time — “but at this time people are more hesitant to come into public spaces.”
“I keep reminding myself that we are going to get back to it, we really will, but right now our numbers are a third of what we were doing,” she said.
Those looking to keep their distance from others can take advantage of the library’s audiobooks and ebooks online but must stop in to get a library card first. Other offerings include free online tutoring services, which Hiers called “severely underutilized.” She said the library provides children access to live one-on-one tutors.
“We are definitely here for the community if any residents have needs that we can meet,” Hiers said, noting one way to do so is to take part in NJHealthConnect @ Your Library.
Parry said the intent of the program is to address the barrier of access to care common among people who lack the technology and/or cannot see a doctor during normal hours.
The program provides iPads preloaded with 24/7 telemedicine apps linked to 14 major hospital systems in the state. Each iPad contains links to multilingual health information; mental health resources for adults and teens; Zoom and Google apps for doctor conferences; crisis hotlines; and links to the latest COVID updates in English and Spanish.
Parry said most of the offerings are free but there is a charge for telehealth visits. However, she said, the cost will be between $30 and $50 instead of about $175 for a standard visit with no insurance. Credit or debit cards would be used for payment.
The program will be facilitated by Just For The Health Of It, a health literacy program developed by the East Brunswick Public Library, and is supported by American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Parry said East Brunswick will serve as a statewide hub for participating libraries and will provide 450 iPads to 152 participants. She said East Brunswick is very active in health literacy, “helping patrons find information that they can understand and act on to make informed and appropriate decisions on health.”
She said the idea is to put the iPads into the hands of people who are most at risk for poor health outcomes.
“We want to provide health equity to those who lack access to medical providers or health information due to financial or lifestyle constraints, for example immigrants who work long hours, people with language barriers who need health information in their native language,” Parry said, noting the iPads will have links to translations of information in hundreds of languages.
Parry said every library that applied will receive one to six iPads based on their Municipal Revitalization Index (MRI) ranking.
The MRI serves as the state’s official measure and ranking of municipal distress. It ranks municipalities according to eight indicators that measure diverse aspects of social, economic, physical and fiscal conditions. The MRI is used as a factor in distributing certain “need-based” funds.
For example, Camden ranks No. 1 out of the state’s 571 communities while Atlantic City is No. 3. Northfield is 197, Linwood 354 and Ocean City 277. Somers Point is 75 and Upper Township 319.
“We are trying to capture those people that do not have access to technology,” Parry said. “Most will reside in the communities in the top portion of the MRI.”
She said the iPads are to be sent out in early February and then a team of consumer health librarians at the East Brunswick Public Library will train and assist participating library staff as they implement the telehealth program in their communities.
Parry said the participating libraries signed a memorandum of understanding that requires them to provide either a private, dedicated space to use the iPads or lend them out according to their circulation policy.
Hiers said Otto Bruyns will have one or more iPads “available for those who do not have the technology capabilities at home to connect with providers.”
She said the meeting room will serve as a private space for research and telehealth visits.
It was not clear how the program would be administered at the libraries in Linwood and Ocean City. Maria Moss of the Linwood Library said she was just getting up to speed on the program and Karen Mahar of the Ocean City library could not be reached by deadline.
Parry said each library would get a set of headphones with each iPad as well as headphone covers. The libraries must disinfect the devices and headphones and replace the headphone covers after each use.
“Everyone deserves a chance to have good health,” Parry said. “Low-income people who can’t buy a computer, people who work shift hours and can’t get to a standard appointment. The beauty of telemedicine is it provides 24/7 access to a doctors.”
Parry said the grant period ends in September and the libraries can keep the iPads and continue the program or have them reset remotely for another use.
“I think it’s going to be an amazing resource, especially for mental health,” Hiers said. “Many are not sure where to start and if nothing else, it will help them get started in connecting to medical resources.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
I don’t think people are hesitant to come into public spaces as much as the library may not be offering programs the people want, or they don’t give people the opportunity to attend programs, but instead are still doing only virtual programs which most people I know do not like. One of the biggest impacts upon health has been the social isolation imposed on people for about two years. I don’t know anyone who would hesitate to go to an in-person program if it were offered, and something they were interested in.
And, though I am only a regular visitor to the area and not a resident, OC is the worst offender I see in this. Even the historical museum, art center and community center in their same complex is more open.