How Telehealth Is Advancing Healthcare Equality Through Virtual Care

Guest post by Charlie Fletcher, who is a freelance writer passionate about workplace equity, and whose published works cover sociology, politics, business, education, health, and more.

The past handful of years has changed a lot about the way that many of us do business. For many of us, a pandemic mindset brought a mix of intense isolation and a claustrophobic amount of time with the members of our immediate household. For a large portion of our society, it also ushered in a new era of remote work and comfort with being on video calls.

How Telehealth Is Advancing Healthcare Equality Through Virtual Care

In hospitals and other healthcare settings, this rise was felt as well. The number of doctors and patients conducting routine check-ups via telehealth services skyrocketed. Even a number of pre-surgery visits and other seemingly significant doctor-patient interactions started occurring in a virtual setting.

For many people, the rise of telehealth services has been a welcome change. In many instances, telehealth has been hailed as a great equalizer in healthcare that could allow patients from rural locations far from state-of-the-art hospitals and specialists to seek high-quality care without expensive travel. Further, it could be a means of leveling a variety of other gaps related to wage and race, for example.

Not All Healthcare is Created Equal

It may come as a surprise to some (and not to others) that healthcare across the U.S. is not of equal quality. In general, portions of the population that live in large cities with medical universities are those that are most likely to receive the best healthcare available. Those living within smaller cities or rural areas are less likely to have access to certain services and specialists.

Even within large cities, there can be significant disparities. For instance, large hospitals, clinics, and other well-funded medical facilities are more likely to be located in more affluent parts of the city. Often this means that less well-off citizens still have to travel farther to obtain specialized care or may visit a hospital with more limited treatment options closer to home.

Certain demographics are more likely to live in an area that is considered underserved by medical professionals including:

• those living in a rural setting,
• people of color,
• immigrants,
• people who identify as LGBTQ,
• seniors, and
• people with disabilities.

Often, this lack of quality treatment options ultimately leads to more negative outcomes such as a higher rate of disease or a longer recovery time after treatment. It isn’t uncommon for these patients to pay more for their care either. And sometimes this disparity leads to a higher likelihood of mortality from preventable issues.

Benefits for Everyone

Fortunately, the uptick in the use of telehealth services has started to address some of the disparities that people face. For instance, those that are living in rural areas are able to more easily visit specialists when they don’t have to take time off work, drive long distances, and pay for hotel stays. This can mean that they get the right type of treatment and only have to travel when absolutely necessary.

Telehealth isn’t just a benefit for patients either. Many healthcare facilities are also seeing real benefits too. For instance, doctors and administrative staff are able to save time by having patients schedule themselves online. In some instances, patients can also take basic readings on things like heart rate and blood pressure by wearing smart devices that can transmit results directly to the doctor’s office.

All of these advances can boost equity in that they provide greater opportunities for patients to play an active role in their health as well. Collecting their own health information, for example, can help build knowledge about their health. Telehealth can also increase the ability of underserved patients to find a healthcare provider they feel comfortable with and trust, which in and of itself can lead to much improved health outcomes.

New Tech and New Opportunities

Continuing advancements in healthcare are likely to continue to improve options for underserved patients that are turning to telehealth as well. For example, options like telehealth optometrist visits are becoming a reality. It may not seem like much, but the ability to obtain quality eye health online can be a huge equalizer in areas where the nearest eye doctor may be over an hour’s drive away.

Telehealth technology is also being adapted to help keep private information secure. Tools like blockchain services are beginning to be widely adopted for patient electronic medical record protection. In a telehealth setting, this can mean that medical records can be more easily viewed by patients before, after, and during medical visits. Again, having access to quality healthcare providers and real-time information about their health can be a powerful tool in improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

The benefits of telehealth services for underserved communities are large. For many, this technology is an equalizer that enables them to receive high-quality, specialized care from the comfort of their own home and without having to travel extensively. Ultimately, this can reduce some prices and lower barriers enough to make healthcare more realistic for some people. As technologies continue to advance, more services will be offered and more positive outcomes will hopefully follow.

Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer passionate about workplace equity, and whose published works cover sociology, politics, business, education, health, and more.

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