Enhanced Two-Step Virtual Catchment Area (E2SVCA) model to measure telehealth accessibility

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Geographic Information Systems
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Telehealth adoption surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its importance for healthcare access.
• Existing methods for evaluating telehealth accessibility, like the Two-Step Virtual Catchment Area (2SVCA) model, have limitations in accurately reflecting broadband requirements.
• There is a need for improved models to assess telehealth accessibility, particularly in rural areas and for achieving healthcare equality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the Enhanced Two-Step Virtual Catchment Area (E2SVCA) model for more accurate telehealth accessibility assessment.
• To compare the E2SVCA model with the traditional 2SVCA model using various broadband speed metrics.
• To identify limitations in current telehealth accessibility evaluations and propose a more realistic approach.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Enhanced Two-Step Virtual Catchment Area (E2SVCA) model, replacing the binary broadband function with a step-wise approach for video conferencing needs.
• Examined different metrics for broadband speed representation at the Census Block level (minimum, maximum of most frequent, minimum of most frequent).
• Compared accessibility results generated by the 2SVCA and E2SVCA models.

Main Results:

• The E2SVCA model provides a more accurate reflection of telehealth accessibility compared to the 2SVCA model.
• The 2SVCA model tends to overestimate telehealth accessibility.
• Different broadband speed metrics reveal varying scenarios, from worst-case (minimum speed) to optimal (maximum of most frequent) and common (minimum of most frequent) accessibility.

Conclusions:

• The E2SVCA model accurately identifies regions with low telehealth accessibility, addressing limitations of the 2SVCA model.
• This enhanced model can inform policymakers for better healthcare resource allocation and improved patient outcomes.
• Accurate telehealth accessibility evaluation is crucial for advancing healthcare equality.