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Parkland to fund telehealth pod pilot at South Garland Library; interlocal agreement expected in October
Summary
Library staff said Parkland Health will provide and fund a telehealth pod to pilot at South Garland Library; Parkland covers installation and equipment, and staff plan to bring an interlocal agreement to council in October with installation likely in 2025.
The Garland Library Board heard Sept. 8 about a Parkland Health Partnership to pilot a telehealth pod at South Garland Library.
Karen Archibald, Director of Libraries, said Parkland approached the city with grant-funded equipment to provide private, in-library telehealth booths for patients who lack reliable internet or devices at home. Archibald described the pod as a self-contained unit with walls, a door and a privacy panel that includes a desktop computer, camera and microphone. She said Parkland is funding the pod and associated installation and that "there's actually not a cost to the city or the pod or the technology."
Staff said the pod would offer a semi-private space for Parkland patients to complete telehealth appointments without charge. Archibald noted the pod could also host the MyChart app or other portals on the desktop so people could use relevant patient portals from the library. Parkland staff provided data showing segments of Garland have higher rates of fair-or-poor health combined with limited internet access; Archibald said roughly 15% of households lack reliable internet and about 24% of residents are uninsured.
Board members asked how the pod would be administered and supported. Archibald said library staff and the city IT department would handle equipment troubleshooting; if the issue is with Parkland's system, Parkland would be contacted to resolve it. She said the pod would be locked when not in use, sanitized between uses, and available by request; staff will prepare community outreach and instructions to help patrons use the technology.
Archibald said the city and Parkland are drafting an interlocal agreement to bring to city council in October for final approval. If approved, staff expect installation in 2025. Board members raised questions about language access, appointment capacity at Parkland, and how Parkland has fared with utilization in other pilot sites; staff said Parkland recorded an initial pilot site averaging about five visits per month but that a library location could attract more use because of foot traffic and evening hours.
No formal board action was recorded; staff will return with the interlocal agreement details and community-engagement plans.
