Getting Beyond Parity: Telehealth as a Best Practice in Health Equity

While some patients and providers have embraced virtual care as a preferred method of services, low-income populations, older adults & others have struggled through the tech and cultural complexities.

Abstract: The global pandemic spurred a rapid uptake of telehealth for nearly all healthcare providers and has permanently changed how health care is delivered. At present, providers and insurers are grappling with how to balance telehealth and in-person care, focusing discussions around reimbursement models and logistics. In this article, the authors acknowledge barriers to telehealth implementation and utilization as guides to discuss whether telehealth can be considered as a good treatment option as in-person care, if it can be even better, and its potential to address intentional development of equity in health care.

Many opportunities exist with telehealth, from expanding the provider pool for patients to reducing stigma associated with presenting for in-person care. These opportunities must be approached strategically if they are to result in meaningful improvements in eliminating health disparities. The authors propose several considerations for ensuring that equity is at the forefront of telehealth implementation discussions and encourage providers, insurers, and advocates to be purposeful in advancing these opportunities.

Want to read more? Head here: https://doi.org/10.30953/tmt.v7.303

Authors:

• Andrew C. Philip | Primary Care Development Corporation
• Mary M. Ford| Primary Care Development Corporation
• Jordan Goldberg | Primary Care Development Corporation