The Institute for Digital Inclusion Acceleration is a nonprofit that offers free tech services, workspace and light refreshments in several community hubs known as "hives." By next month, a fifth hive will be operating in Maricopa County.
With the help of a $10 million county grant and partners, the nonprofit IDIA has been able to open and operate several hives, with the goal of expanding across the state.
The newest hive is called the Tempe EnVision Center on East Apache Boulevard.
Dom Papa is with IDIA. He says Tempe is the first hive to offer a telehealth room.
“It’s much more than just coming in and being able to have an online appointment with your doctor. These telehealth access points actually offer access to technologies everything from blood pressure technology to actually personalized EKGs," Papa said.
He also says the room is secure.
"This is a separate and secure HIPAA compliant internet connectivity within this room individually that is completely separate from the rest of the EnVision Center," Papa said.
Papa says IDIA plans to expand telehealth to other hive locations.
Anyone can access the hives, even people who don't live in the city where they are located. Rooms and workshops can be reserved online, and computers and some other tech are available without reservation. Staff can also help visitors navigate.
