EL PASO, Texas – In response to the growing need for digital health access, a new partnership between Borderplex Connect and Mission Telecom is teaching local residents how to navigate telehealth services. The effort focuses on training promotoras – trusted community health workers – to become digital navigators for families across the city.
Why the program matters
Telehealth has become a staple of modern medical care, offering video appointments, online test results and electronic prescription refills. Yet many El Paso residents still lack the skills or equipment needed to use these tools safely. The digital‑navigation program aims to close that gap by providing hands‑on instruction and affordable technology.
Promotoras become digital guides
Promotoras, who already serve as cultural liaisons in neighborhoods, receive specialized training on how to set up patient portals, schedule virtual appointments, locate reliable health information online and recognize phishing scams. Once certified, they conduct one‑on‑one sessions in homes, community centers and churches, showing families step‑by‑step how to log in, upload insurance details and communicate with providers.
Discounted tablets for those without devices
Mission Telecom is supplying low‑cost tablets to participants who lack a computer or smartphone. The devices come pre‑loaded with secure health‑portal apps and simple instructions, ensuring that even seniors and low‑income households can join the digital health wave without financial strain.
Community response
Local residents who have taken part in the program report increased confidence in managing their own health. “I never knew how to check my lab results online,” said Maria González, a mother of three from the Eastside. “Now I can see them instantly and ask my doctor questions without driving across town.”
Community leaders also note that the initiative aligns with broader efforts to strengthen family health and reduce barriers that disproportionately affect illegal immigrant families and seniors.
Support from local media
ABC‑7 obtained an exclusive look at the program’s rollout, highlighting how digital navigation is expanding health equity in the Borderplex. The station will feature a full segment on Thursday at 10 a.m., showcasing real‑world examples of promotoras assisting neighbors.
Looking ahead
The partnership plans to scale the model to additional neighborhoods and to incorporate training on emerging health technologies, such as remote monitoring devices for chronic conditions. By empowering residents with the knowledge and tools to use telehealth safely, the program hopes to improve overall health outcomes and reduce unnecessary emergency‑room visits.
For more information or to volunteer as a digital navigator, residents can contact Borderplex Connect at (915) 555‑0123 or visit Mission Telecom’s website.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
