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Equity in virtual urgent care: lessons from health system-based models
Lindsay Allen1, Esther Choo2, Kristin L Rising3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
The Lancet. Digital Health
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Virtual urgent care (VUC) models differ significantly, impacting patient access and potentially worsening health disparities. Tailoring VUC to diverse needs is crucial for equitable healthcare delivery.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Digital Health Equity
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Virtual urgent care (VUC) is a growing part of the virtual healthcare market, offering benefits like reduced costs and improved access.
- However, VUC models are not uniform and vary across healthcare systems, affecting care delivery, cost, and patient access.
- Treating all VUC models as equivalent can be misleading and may exacerbate existing health disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze variations in VUC models across different health systems.
- To apply the five dimensions of access (availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability, acceptability) to understand how VUC models impact healthcare equity.
- To highlight the need for tailored VUC strategies to ensure equitable access for all populations.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive analysis of VUC models in three distinct health systems.
- Application of Penchansky and Thomas' five key access dimensions to evaluate VUC models.
- Qualitative assessment of how model variations influence healthcare equity.
Main Results:
- Significant variations exist among VUC models, influencing care delivery, cost, and patient access.
- Different VUC models uniquely affect the five dimensions of healthcare access.
- Overlooking these differences can lead to or worsen health disparities.
Conclusions:
- Recognizing and addressing the heterogeneity of VUC models is essential for promoting health equity.
- Healthcare systems must tailor VUC models to meet the specific needs of diverse patient populations.
- Future research should focus on VUC design's impact on health equity and strategies for underserved communities, including addressing technology access and digital literacy.
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