PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The COVID-19 pandemic is showing the gaps in health care especially in rural areas. Telehealth is an option to help close that gap, but broadband coverage is another issue facing those rural areas.

Walter Panzirer, trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust, says they want to help fill that gap.

Panzirer says they are working with Avera Health on their tele-health system.

Panzirer said the pandemic is forcing some changes.

Panzirer says they will continue to financially back the expansion of the rural health care net.