While telehealth is a promising solution to healthcare disparities, it must be deployed carefully to avoid creating new inequities.
Telehealth and Health Equity
Broadband Accessibility and Digital Literacy – This is a key techequity challenge that can limit patient participation in telehealth. This is particularly true for patients from rural areas, racial and ethnic minorities, low-income families, those with limited English proficiency and those who live in areas with a lack of broadband.
Convenience
Telehealth visits offer the convenience of a visit with your doctor without having to travel to the office. This allows you to save time and money, especially if you live in rural areas or have children who are busy with school or daycare.
A new survey from Australia found that telehealth use is increasing. Over forty percent of patients said they used telehealth within one year, and 53 percent said they had used it between two to five times in the same period.
While telehealth is becoming more popular, it still remains a low-volume technology across all sectors However, many providers are leveraging it as part of their overall patient engagement strategies. At Nemours, for example, they’re using telehealth to connect patients with specialists who might not be in their area. This reduces travel time for the provider, boosts family and patient satisfaction, and also helps to improve the quality of care by eliminating unnecessary trips into the clinic.
Accessibility
Telehealth can make care more accessible to people who don’t live near hospitals or clinics. They can schedule appointments online, in their home, or on the go using a mobile device that has data access and a camera.
Virtual care can also be more accessible for those who have mobility impairments that make it difficult or impossible to get to a doctor’s office. It can also be more convenient for those who have mental health issues that make it hard to leave their homes.
Health equity means that everyone should have the same opportunities to stay healthy and reach their full potential. It includes ensuring that all individuals have equal access to essential services, such as nutritious food, safe transportation, and housing.
Efficiency
Telehealth offers a form of care that can be more efficient than traditional in-person care. This is especially true if a person lives in a remote location or lacks the ability to travel.
It also eliminates the need for costly travel and can reduce patient and provider costs. It is also more convenient for patients with busy schedules and health conditions that require specialized care.
However, while telehealth is an important tool for healthcare organizations and physicians, it must be incorporated into health system plans and policies with equity in mind. To do this, payers should require telemedicine-provided services be covered on the same basis as in-person services.
Equity
Using virtual care can help people stay home when they’re sick or get an appointment they otherwise might not be able to fit into their schedule. It can also save an emergency room visit if it’s possible to talk with a healthcare provider over the phone or video instead.
Health equity is the belief that every person deserves fair and just access, opportunity, and resources to reach their highest potential for health. It’s an important goal to pursue because it reduces disparities in health and increases overall efficiency.
Achieving health equity requires a holistic approach that considers social and political determinants of health as well as the physical environment. It can also involve health promotion initiatives such as mobile health clinics or health literacy programs.
Health care providers can work to promote health equity by hiring and retaining staff from diverse backgrounds, making sure their employees have opportunities for training and advancement, and providing a welcoming workplace environment. In addition, they can implement telehealth technologies and other innovative health delivery services that connect more patients to medical care.