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At first blush, this is a tech story.
But it’s actually about healthcare disparities that disproportionally impact people of color, low-income folks, rural residents and the elderly — and how the pivot to telemedicine is just another obstacle to care. https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
But it’s actually about healthcare disparities that disproportionally impact people of color, low-income folks, rural residents and the elderly — and how the pivot to telemedicine is just another obstacle to care. https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
Overall, as many as 157.3 million people in the US only have access to substandard download speeds.
It doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to see having slow or no internet is going to make virtual doctor visits difficult if not impossible. https://gizmodo.com/fcc-cuts-bogus-data-from-yearly-broadband-report-acts-1835074451
It doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to see having slow or no internet is going to make virtual doctor visits difficult if not impossible. https://gizmodo.com/fcc-cuts-bogus-data-from-yearly-broadband-report-acts-1835074451
Already, Covid-19 has highlighted the digital divide.
About half of low-income adults told @pewresearch they’re concerned about affording their broadband and smartphone bills during the pandemic (when the internet has become more essential than ever). https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/04/30/53-of-americans-say-the-internet-has-been-essential-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/
About half of low-income adults told @pewresearch they’re concerned about affording their broadband and smartphone bills during the pandemic (when the internet has become more essential than ever). https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/04/30/53-of-americans-say-the-internet-has-been-essential-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/
. @pewresearch breaks down the demographics: Racial minorities, older adults & rural residents are less likely to have home broadband.
E.g.: In 2019, 80% of white adults had internet at home— compared to 66% of Black adults and 61% of Hispanic adults.
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/
E.g.: In 2019, 80% of white adults had internet at home— compared to 66% of Black adults and 61% of Hispanic adults.
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/
For @WIRED, I talked to more than a dozen doctors (general practitioners and specialists in geriatrics, psychiatry, orthopedics, cardiology, pediatrics, etc.) about telemedicine.
“It’s become a lifeline,” @translatedmed said, “but not across the board.” https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
“It’s become a lifeline,” @translatedmed said, “but not across the board.” https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
Cleveland doc Carla Harwell's patients are already vulnerable to Covid-19: They're mostly black and older, lower income & have chronic conditions like hypertension, asthma, diabetes or obesity.
Many also lack the home internet/devices needed for telemed.
https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
Many also lack the home internet/devices needed for telemed.
https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
. @KimTempleton3, an orthopedic surgeon in Kansas, works with rural patients who (pre-Covid) drove 5 or 6 hours to see her in-person.
In some cases, their local doc offices don’t even have the bandwidth to send her any x-rays or MRIs. https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
In some cases, their local doc offices don’t even have the bandwidth to send her any x-rays or MRIs. https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
. @LoewenthalMd told me about a patient who suddenly stopped answering calls during the pivot to telemed.
Dr. Loewenthal was worried enough that she asked police to do a welfare check. The patient was fine. “She was just trying to save her minutes.” https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
Dr. Loewenthal was worried enough that she asked police to do a welfare check. The patient was fine. “She was just trying to save her minutes.” https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
Patients with preexisting obstacles to treatment —transportation access, food insecurity, or language barriers, for ex—are now also being asked to bridge the digital divide keeping them from care.
“We see these things clustering together," says @DrRayMD. https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
“We see these things clustering together," says @DrRayMD. https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
I'll wrap this up with two quotes from Dr. Harwell:
“When you need telemedicine everywhere, you see a vulnerable population that doesn’t have the means to use it."
"We will get through this pandemic… But what will we do about what it’s highlighted?” https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
“When you need telemedicine everywhere, you see a vulnerable population that doesn’t have the means to use it."
"We will get through this pandemic… But what will we do about what it’s highlighted?” https://www.wired.com/story/health-care-online-patients-left-behind/
