Telehealth in the Circumpolar North: A Perspective of Access and Connectivity

Telehealth deployments enable access to a distant healthcare provider remotely through communication channels. Telehealth typically connects two endpoints, such as a patient site and a healthcare provider, often using end-user devices such as laptops and mobile devices connected to the Internet. Telehealth aims to reduce healthcare inequity for patients from remote locations lacking critical healthcare facilities. However, limited Internet access and the lack of computational resources in those regions prevent patients from utilizing telehealth effectively. The circumpolar north, consisting of Arctic regions such as Alaska, Northern Canada, Greenland, and Svalbard, has unstable or expensive access to the Internet despite being part of developed, well-connected countries. The distance from their country’s economic hubs and these territories’ vastness, coupled with their minimal population, pose challenges for telehealth and Internet access. This paper identifies the network, execution, and process challenges for equitable telehealth access and connectivity in the circumpolar north. We survey the state-of-the-art for potential solutions and research optimizations. We conclude the paper by discussing the evolving landscape in providing telehealth access to these remote communities.