BY KAREN BOSSICK

Hailey Public Library is now in the business of providing health care, as well as books, thanks to a new telehealth service donated by St. Luke’s Health System.

St. luke’s donated a TytoClinic to the library that will allow Wood River Valley residents to schedule same-day virtual visits with St. Luke’s providers from a dedicated telehealth room in the library.

The system, developed by Tyto Care and integrated with St. Luke’s On-Demand Virtual Care, provides comprehensive remote examinations. Patients can use an iPad to connect with a clinician who will use a TytoCare FDA-cleared handheld diagnostic device to conduct high-quality remote exams.

Clinicians will be able to listen to heart and lung sounds, examine ears and throat and measure vital signs, such as temperature and oxygen levels, to diagnose conditions, recommend treatment and, if needed, prescribe medications.

“Our goal is to make health care as convenient and accessible as we can,” said Abby Losinski, director of telehealth at St. Luke’s Health System. “In a rural state like Idaho, we can’t simply build more clinics—there aren’t enough physicians to staff them. Instead, our strategy is to create virtual hubs in community spaces, such as libraries, that patrons know and trust to increase access to a clinician every day.”

Patients can schedule a time to use the telehealth room at the library; they will need a MyChart account, which can be set up on site if one does not already exist.  Times are available every five minutes during library hours.

Language services for interpretation are offered, including Spanish. St. Luke’s Center for Community Health has staff at the Hailey Public Library select hours once per week to provide outreach services and help with connecting to virtual care via the TytoClinic or for other telehealth appointments, such as behavioral health visits.” 

The cost for TytoClinic visits may be covered by insurance; patients are encouraged to confirm their coverage and expected costs before scheduling.

“Having the TytoClinic here enables community members to connect with medical providers without leaving the Wood River Valley,” said Laura Primrose of Hailey Public Library. “In a rural area like ours, this means quality care is within reach, even during inclement weather.”

The initiative is part of the Idaho Commission for Libraries program to promote telehealth in libraries statewide.

“This addition serves as a model for the other 39 libraries in Idaho working toward providing similar services,” said Deanna Brown, adult services library consultant for Idaho Commission for Libraries.

For more information on scheduling a visit, go to https://www.stlukesonline.org/health-services/service-groups/on-demand-virtual-care or contact 208-381-4210.