The COVID-19 pandemic has irrevocably changed the landscape of healthcare. With the advent and adoption of telehealth services, patients have been able to access medical care from the safety and comfort of their homes. As the dust begins to settle, researchers are analyzing the impact telehealth has had on racial disparities in healthcare.
A Tool for Equity
A recent study by Penn Medicine found that during the pandemic, telehealth significantly reduced the gap between the number of primary care visits among Black and non-Black patients. Researchers, who analyzed 1.9 million appointments, observed that racial differences in appointment completion rates narrowed considerably in 2020. The percentage of completed primary care visits among Black patients spiked from 60% before the pandemic to over 80% in 2020 due to increased telehealth use. Similarly, the rate among non-Black patients rose from about 70% pre-pandemic to over 80%. The data suggests that telehealth was not only accessible but also preferred by Black patients (Melchionna, 2022).
Additionally, several organizations have been pioneering efforts to use telehealth to bridge racial disparities. In Massachusetts, the Telehealth Consortium, comprising federally qualified health centers, focused on eliminating racial health disparities by addressing the digital divide and fundraising for sustained telehealth access. Another noteworthy initiative is the Digital Telehealth Hub launched by Jackson State University College of Health Sciences, which aims to uncover and overcome challenges faced by racial minorities in accessing healthcare resources (Melchionna, 2022).
A Call for Nuanced Implementation
However, it’s crucial to recognize that telehealth is not a panacea. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) cautions that while telehealth can improve access to healthcare services, there are significant challenges, especially concerning vulnerable populations. Disparities in internet access by age, sex, race, ethnicity, income, and education can limit the effectiveness of telehealth in serving these communities (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.).
Moreover, AHRQ points out that the sole reliance on electronic tools for healthcare delivery may not always enhance a patient’s ability to obtain, process, and understand health information. Telehealth services that solely focus on access without considering how individuals in vulnerable populations process information may inadvertently exacerbate existing health disparities (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.).
The Road Ahead
It’s evident that telehealth holds great promise in addressing racial disparities in healthcare, but it’s also a double-edged sword. For telehealth to be an effective tool in bridging these disparities, a nuanced approach is needed. This involves not just providing access but ensuring quality care that takes into account the specific needs and challenges of vulnerable populations. Initiatives that address the digital divide, provide education, and ensure that patients can process and understand the information shared through telehealth are essential.
The pandemic has presented an opportunity to reshape healthcare delivery. Stakeholders, from policymakers to healthcare providers, must work collaboratively to ensure that telehealth realizes its full potential as an instrument of equity without leaving any community behind.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.). Telehealth and health disparities. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov
Melchionna, M. (2022, May 11). Telehealth reduced racial disparities in primary care access in 2020. MHealth Intelligence. Retrieved from https://mhealthintelligence.com