TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the role of telehealth in providing equitable healthcare to the vulnerable patient population during COVID-19
AU - Shah, Dania A.
AU - Sall, Dana
AU - Peng, Wesley
AU - Sharer, Rustan
AU - Essary, Alison C.
AU - Radhakrishnan, Priya
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2024/7
Y1 - 2024/7
N2 - The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in widespread telehealth implementation. Existent health disparities were widened, with under-represented minorities (URM) disproportionately affected by COVID. In this study, we assess the role of telehealth in improving access to care in the URMs and vulnerable populations. We noted a statistically significant increase in the number of visits in Hispanic or Latino patients (15.2% increase, p < 0.01) and Black patients (19% increase, p < 0.01). Based on payer type, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of visits in the Medicare (10.2%, p = 0.0001) and Medicaid (16.2%, p < 0.01) groups. We also noted increased access to care with telehealth in patients who were 65 and older (10.6%, p = 0.004). This highlights the importance of telehealth in increasing access to care and promoting health equity in the URM and vulnerable patient populations.
AB - The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in widespread telehealth implementation. Existent health disparities were widened, with under-represented minorities (URM) disproportionately affected by COVID. In this study, we assess the role of telehealth in improving access to care in the URMs and vulnerable populations. We noted a statistically significant increase in the number of visits in Hispanic or Latino patients (15.2% increase, p < 0.01) and Black patients (19% increase, p < 0.01). Based on payer type, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of visits in the Medicare (10.2%, p = 0.0001) and Medicaid (16.2%, p < 0.01) groups. We also noted increased access to care with telehealth in patients who were 65 and older (10.6%, p = 0.004). This highlights the importance of telehealth in increasing access to care and promoting health equity in the URM and vulnerable patient populations.
KW - COVID-19, pandemic
KW - health equity
KW - Telehealth
KW - under-represented minority
KW - vulnerable population
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85134342966&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85134342966&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1357633X221113711
DO - 10.1177/1357633X221113711
M3 - Article
C2 - 35833345
AN - SCOPUS:85134342966
SN - 1357-633X
VL - 30
SP - 1047
EP - 1050
JO - Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
JF - Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
IS - 6
ER -