Telehealth at the Crossroads of Access and Equity: Bridging or Widening the Digital Divide in Healthcare?

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15997998

ABSTRACT

This inaugural podcast explores the transformative potential of telehealth in healthcare delivery, emphasizing its rapid expansion, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. They examine how telehealth can bridge geographical and logistical barriers to care, offering increased convenience and access for many. However, the texts also highlight the significant risks of telehealth exacerbating existing health disparities due to the multifaceted "digital divide," which encompasses not only access to technology but also digital literacy, affordability, and socio-cultural factors. Ultimately, the sources propose comprehensive strategies—spanning policy, technology design, education, and community engagement—to ensure telehealth is implemented equitably, preventing it from widening the chasm in health access for vulnerable populations.

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OBJECTIVES

1. What is telehealth and how has it changed healthcare delivery?

2. What is the digital divide and why is it more than just a lack of internet access?

3. How can telehealth potentially improve healthcare access, especially for underserved groups?

4. How does the digital divide threaten to worsen existing health disparities through telehealth?

5. What are some of the key barriers preventing vulnerable populations from accessing and using telehealth equitably?

6. What is the role of "Digital Determinants of Health" in understanding the relationship between telehealth and equity?

7. What strategies can be implemented to help bridge the digital divide and ensure more equitable telehealth access?

8. What are the key recommendations for different stakeholders to promote health equity in the age of digital healthcare?

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