(Wise, Va.) – The Health Wagon, in partnership with the Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA), is launching a groundbreaking initiative to bring high-speed internet to underserved communities in Southwest Virginia through SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system. This initiative is set to revolutionize telehealth delivery for both routine and emergency care, with additional technological advancements on the horizon.
Transforming Healthcare Delivery with Starlink
Starlink, a satellite internet service by SpaceX, has been successfully deployed for military operations, disaster response, and healthcare worldwide. With a VCEDA matching grant, Health Wagon has secured funding for installations, ensuring the program’s success in 2024. This initiative is crucial in bridging the gap for rural patients who previously depended on unreliable cellular hotspots to connect with major medical centers like the University of Virginia. Starlink’s broadband capability enables promising new telemedicine technologies that Health Wagon is actively exploring.
“By leveraging Starlink, we are transforming healthcare delivery in rural Virginia,” said Dr. Teresa Tyson, DNP, Health Wagon President and CEO. “Virtual consultations, remote diagnostics, and tele-specialty care are now available to patients who would otherwise struggle to access medical services. This initiative reduces travel burdens and ensures timely medical intervention.”
Donald Purdie, president of Appalachian Broadband Innovators, emphasized Starlink’s scalability: “With each new generation of satellites, the service only gets faster and more reliable. SpaceX continues expanding its network, making Starlink broadband the best option for remote internet access.”
Health Wagon also integrates innovative virtual care tool TytoCare, the Home Smart Clinic technology that transforms primary care by bringing it into the home , allowing doctors to do remote physical exams and review clinical, actionable and real-time data and insights, powered by TytoCare’s robust FDA-cleared AI. Health Wagon utilizes TytoCare’s device, transforming the home into the hub of primary care with advanced diagnostics, AI-powered insights, and seamless remote care.
Pioneering Innovation in Rural Healthcare
Health Wagon’s history of technological innovation, from being an integral partner on the first FAA drone delivery of medication a decade ago to today’s satellite internet expansion, highlights its dedication to innovative patient care. “Holographic imaging of doctors and nurses with artificial intelligence may enhance interactions with patients in a telehealth setting in the near future,” Dr. Tyson, DNP, added, underscoring the organization’s commitment to pushing healthcare boundaries.
Last year, Health Wagon introduced the first mobile health application in Virginia through a grant from Don Green, executive director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation. This expansion has improved remote healthcare access, and regional state health departments have since adopted Starlink mobile broadband.
Expanding Access to Telemedicine Services
By integrating Starlink technology, Health Wagon is improving access to:
- Remote teleradiology
- Tele-specialty consultations
- Advanced tele-diagnostics (e.g., tele-cystoscopies, tele-ultrasounds, telecardiology)
These advancements reduce healthcare disparities and provide essential chronic disease management and follow-up care.
Eliminating Dead Zones with Starlink’s Satellite Connectivity
Beyond home and mobile unit connectivity, Starlink’s cellular-to-satellite services are eliminating connectivity dead zones in mountainous regions. This breakthrough ensures reliable mobile phone service for residents and emergency responders, enhancing both public safety and healthcare accessibility. “With Starlink, Health Wagon can now communicate with patients wherever they are, without the worry of dead zones,” Dr. Tyson noted.
Exploring the Future of Telehealth
Health Wagon is now or will be in the future conducting medical case studies on emerging technologies, including:
- Enhancements in patient-provider interaction using holographic imaging
- Secure transmission and protection of health data from home to health care provider
- Safe and timely delivery of medications via drones
- Secure navigation and precise medical delivery using Starlink-integrated drones
Community Impact: Stories from Residents
Thomas Younce, a coal miner from Haysi, Virginia, now relies on Starlink for daily telehealth visits. “I use it for medical check-ups with Humana, which saves me trips to the doctor. Thank you, Health Wagon, for making this possible.”
Kacy McCoy of Wise, Virginia, shared how Starlink helped her daughter receive care during a snowstorm. “Telehealth through Starlink allowed my daughter to get the care she needed from home.”
Amber Perrigan, a work-from-home mother in Dickenson County, praised Starlink’s reliability: “It’s fast, easy to set up, and doesn’t lag—even with the whole family using it. It’s a game-changer.”
Starlink’s Role in Emergency Response
During Hurricane Helene, Health Wagon deployed its mobile unit to Damascus, VA, where medical providers used Starlink to establish communication systems. Health Wagon transmitted patient data in real time to specialists, ensuring seamless, lifesaving care. “We are exploring partnerships to establish emergency supply pallets in each Appalachian Mountain county,
providing medical resources and broadband connectivity for disaster response,” Dr. Tyson, DNP stated.
Starlink Integration Timeline
- August 30, 2023 – Health Wagon adopts Starlink for mobile units with an initial private donation
- February 23, 2024 – Starlink grant awarded to Health Wagon
- May 2024 – First home installations begin in Southwest Virginia
- August 2024 – 60th home connected
- January 2025 – 100 homes initialized
- February 2025 – First anniversary of the grant announcement
For more information contact Sarah Gardner sgardner@thehealthwagon.org or call the Health Wagon at 276-328-8850.
About The Health Wagon
The Health Wagon is a nonprofit, nurse practitioner-managed clinic providing free medical, dental, pharmacy, and vision care services to residents of Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Washington and Russell Counties, as well as the City of Norton. Since 1980, The Health Wagon has been at the forefront of healthcare innovation, ensuring underserved communities receive quality medical services.
For more information, please call 276-328-8850 or visit www.thehealthwagon.org. To support Health Wagon’s mission, consider donating at www.thehealthwagon.org/donate.
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Photo Caption:
Teresa Tyson, DNP, CEO of the Health Wagon and Paula Hill-Collins, DNP, Clinical Director, pose by an ultrasound machine used by the Health Wagon.
