Medical Deserts

Lately I am seeing something so commonly, that I must talk about it. The problem I am seeing a a generalized lack of access to expert care. I always knew that in places like Alaska and Montana it would be hard to find an expert within a hour or so, but I was unprepared for the reality.

Yes, people residing in remote rural areas, from Alaska to Maine do have less access to experts and specialists. What I was surprised by is that 83% of Americans live within 1 hour of a metro/urban city with a population of 100,000 or more. 83%!!! So why are so many families finding that they cannot access speciality care in their area and what can be done about it?

Part of the problem is that a lot of the specialists in the Perinatal field- Lactation Consultants, Doulas, Pelvic Floor Therapists, Tongue Tie team providers, Bodyworkers and more- are not covered by insurance. Which means they are in private practice, and therefore must charge for their services. Cost alone makes their services unattainable for many.

Then there is also the fact that a lot of these Perinatal specialists haven’t been thought of as essential or important, but as extra. There aren’t many jobs in these specialities. For example the county I used to live in had about 400 births a month, and only 3 part-time lactation consultants in the hospital, no private practice lactation consultants when I arrived, or when I moved, no one for pelvic floor, no Myofascial release, no tongue tie release and the list goes on and on.

So what can be done about this? Where is the solution? Well, I like to dream about a day when these “extras” like support so you don’t pee when you laugh, or so that you can breastfeed your child to help them grow healthy and strong will be covered by insurance and a part of the infrastructure in our healthcare system. Yeah I know, keep dreaming.

In the meantime, this is why I am passionate about telehealth!!! Yes it doesn’t work for everything (still have to go to the dentist for cleanings and chiropractic care doesn’t work well over zoom either), but there is A LOT to be gained with telehealth.

As an IBCLC I have a very specialized education and training, even more so with my focus on TOTs. Most areas and many states don’t have TOTs expert IBCLC’s. But with telehealth, I can see a client in Arkansas in the morning and Alaska in the afternoon. I can educate, support and teach these parents how to do the therapy needed for their baby. I can help them find providers in their area when possible that can help fill in the gaps. I can bring expert care to houses all across the nation, and the world.

So while I’m waiting on the dream of quality healthcare, I focus on living my dream now, of brining expert lactation therapy to homes everywhere. Until all families have support through their feeding journey, there is more work to be done. And with telehealth, it’s finally possible to reach families everywhere.