KFF Health News, published a report called “Dead Zone: Millions in U.S. Live in Places Where Doctors Don’t Practice and Telehealth Doesn’t Reach.” It’s an intriguing look at communities and counties where residents tend to have more health problems, fewer health professionals and insufficient access to broadband internet.

Southeast Ohio has a significant number of counties where residents live in such “dead zones.”

“Compared with those in other regions, patients across the rural South, Appalachia, and remote West are most often unable to make a video call to their doctor or log into their patient portals,” according to the report. “Both are essential ways to participate in the U.S. medical system.”

Southeast Ohioans are aware they live in a region with higher incidences of heart and lung disease, diabetes and some cancers. We also know there is a shortage of healthcare professionals. Access to broadband internet service has been a challenge for years.

But the challenges are so great that seven Ohio counties — Carroll, Monroe, Noble, Morgan, Meigs, Vinton and Pike — meet the definition of a “dead zone:” inadequate broadband service in addition to being Medicaid primary care and behavioral health deserts.

Others meet the definition of being broadband and care deserts — Holmes, Harrison, Brown, Adams and Hocking. Gallia, Highland and Washington counties are listed as broadband deserts only.

We must hope U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s “rigorous review” of planned broadband spending preserves money meant for projects in southeast Ohio and the rest of Appalachia.

Lives truly depend on it.