Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics
Given the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was swiftly implemented in the United States and shifted from an optional to an essential modality of care. This was important in both maintaining continuity of care, especially for those with chronic illnesses, and in evaluating individuals pre...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-02-01
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| Series: | AJOG Global Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666577822001071 |
| _version_ | 1797869724084731904 |
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| author | Beverly C. Udegbe Mark A. Clapp, MD, MPH Allison S. Bryant, MD, MPH |
| author_facet | Beverly C. Udegbe Mark A. Clapp, MD, MPH Allison S. Bryant, MD, MPH |
| author_sort | Beverly C. Udegbe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Given the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was swiftly implemented in the United States and shifted from an optional to an essential modality of care. This was important in both maintaining continuity of care, especially for those with chronic illnesses, and in evaluating individuals presenting with illness or acute needs. One of the primary benefits of telemedicine is convenience; however, this is juxtaposed with the various downsides that result from a lack of physical appointments and accessible technology. Notably, there are large barriers to achieving equity for certain communities, of which the most apparent is the “digital divide” that results from a lack of adequate broadband infrastructure and lower technology literacy among members of certain communities and those in rural areas. Without attention to factors that can improve availability, uptake, and experience, disparities will increase with telemedicine. As this technology becomes common practice, it will be important to provide equal reimbursement for in-person and telehealth visits, center patient design and cultural competency in telemedicine programs, and improve broadband and technology access, ensuring that the highest-quality care is delivered to all patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:16:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9d35a142d984b748d525835b56e63fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5778 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:16:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AJOG Global Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9d35a142d984b748d525835b56e63fa2023-03-16T05:06:30ZengElsevierAJOG Global Reports2666-57782023-02-0131100159Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetricsBeverly C. Udegbe0Mark A. Clapp, MD, MPH1Allison S. Bryant, MD, MPH2Tufts University, Boston, MA (Ms Udegbe)Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Drs Clapp and Bryant); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Drs Clapp and Bryant)Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Drs Clapp and Bryant); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Drs Clapp and Bryant); Corresponding author: Allison S. Bryant, MD, MPH.Given the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was swiftly implemented in the United States and shifted from an optional to an essential modality of care. This was important in both maintaining continuity of care, especially for those with chronic illnesses, and in evaluating individuals presenting with illness or acute needs. One of the primary benefits of telemedicine is convenience; however, this is juxtaposed with the various downsides that result from a lack of physical appointments and accessible technology. Notably, there are large barriers to achieving equity for certain communities, of which the most apparent is the “digital divide” that results from a lack of adequate broadband infrastructure and lower technology literacy among members of certain communities and those in rural areas. Without attention to factors that can improve availability, uptake, and experience, disparities will increase with telemedicine. As this technology becomes common practice, it will be important to provide equal reimbursement for in-person and telehealth visits, center patient design and cultural competency in telemedicine programs, and improve broadband and technology access, ensuring that the highest-quality care is delivered to all patients.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666577822001071digital dividedisparitieshealth equityhealth policyobstetricstelemedicine |
| spellingShingle | Beverly C. Udegbe Mark A. Clapp, MD, MPH Allison S. Bryant, MD, MPH Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics AJOG Global Reports digital divide disparities health equity health policy obstetrics telemedicine |
| title | Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics |
| title_full | Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics |
| title_fullStr | Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics |
| title_short | Disparities from bedside to “webside”: barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics |
| title_sort | disparities from bedside to webside barriers to achieving equity in telemedicine in obstetrics |
| topic | digital divide disparities health equity health policy obstetrics telemedicine |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666577822001071 |
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