Opportunities and Risks for Telehealth in Advancing Health Equity in Academic Medicine

Area of Science:

• Healthcare access
• Health equity
• Telehealth technology

Background:

• Academic medical centers (AMCs) have historically served vulnerable populations.
• Telehealth presents opportunities to expand healthcare access and equity.
• The digital divide poses a risk of exacerbating existing health disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how telehealth can be leveraged by AMCs to enhance healthcare access and equity.
• To identify strategies for implementing telehealth with a health equity focus.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on telehealth adoption in AMCs.
• Analysis of potential impacts on health disparities.
• Framework development for equitable telehealth implementation.

Main Results:

• Telehealth can improve access for underserved communities if implemented thoughtfully.
• The digital divide remains a significant barrier, potentially widening health inequities.
• A proactive health equity approach is necessary to mitigate risks.

Conclusions:

• AMCs must prioritize health equity in telehealth strategies.
• Addressing the digital divide is essential for realizing telehealth's potential.
• Equitable telehealth implementation requires intentional planning and resource allocation.