The digital health divide is a growing concern in the healthcare industry, as it can prevent many people from accessing necessary healthcare services. Underserved populations, including those who are geographically remote, economically disadvantaged, or digitally under-resourced, experience an inequality in their ability to access, use, and benefit from healthcare technologies.
Patients in rural communities without reliable broadband often cannot access telehealth services, which can lead to delayed care and poor health outcomes. Michael Archuleta, CIO at Mt. San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad, Colo., notes that “when these barriers exist, people delay care.” He adds that patients often don’t seek treatment until they’re sick enough to require an emergency visit.
Income, location, and age play a role in digital access and the digital health divide. According to the report, Americans with the lowest household incomes are much less likely to have broadband internet at home, with 54% of households earning less than $30,000 a year having broadband, compared to 94% of those making over $100,000.
Rural Americans are also less likely to subscribe to home broadband, with 71% of rural Americans having broadband, compared to 84% of suburbanites. Adults 65 and older are the least likely age group to own a smartphone, with 78% of adults in this age group owning a smartphone, compared to almost all adults under 50.
Telehealth is one area where the digital health divide is particularly pronounced. Archuleta notes that “telehealth has completely changed what’s possible for almost any healthcare group and especially for rural America.” However, telehealth is only as good as the infrastructure behind it, and improving this infrastructure will require public-private partnerships that can leverage federal and state resources.
Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, suggests that states could receive federal funds from the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program to help expand telehealth and other digital technologies. He notes that “access is a systemic issue well beyond any individual clinic, hospital or health system.”
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the digital health divide will become an increasingly important issue to address. By implementing technology in a way that benefits all patients, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status, healthcare providers can help to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes.
Remote patient monitoring devices are one way that health systems are working to address the digital health divide. These devices track patients’ health inside their homes and can send alerts to electronic health record systems, allowing clinicians to identify changes early and intervene before patients end up in the emergency department.
Archuleta notes that remote patient monitoring “changes healthcare from reactive to proactive” and allows patients to take control of their own health.
The goal should be to implement technology in a way that benefits all patients, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
Health systems are also leveraging mobile applications to enable patients to schedule appointments, review test results, receive prescription reminders, communicate with their providers, and engage in virtual visits. Archuleta notes that “the smartphone has become one of the most important healthcare tools we have,” and it is being used to improve healthcare outcomes.
To determine if a technology is helping to alleviate the digital health divide, health systems must measure its impact on patient outcomes. Archuleta considers metrics such as hospital admission, readmission, and no-show rates, as well as tech utilization across populations. By involving patients, clinicians, and community members in the planning stage of tech adoption, health systems can help to ensure that technology is implemented in a way that benefits all patients.
Ultimately, the goal of healthcare technology should be to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in access to care. By addressing the digital health divide and implementing technology in a way that benefits all patients, healthcare providers can help to create a more equitable and effective healthcare system, which is also influenced by social media.