COVID-19 has accelerated the use of telehealth – 80% of U.S. physicians reported using virtual consults by July of 2020, up from 9% in 2019.
The pandemic also shone a light on longstanding inequities in access to healthcare, which disproportionately affect Black Americans and those in other underserved minority communities.
Telehealth holds the potential to ease disparities in care for minority patients and communities in the United States, but realizing this potential will require that healthcare stakeholders work together to overcome key roadblocks.
In this new report, we talked to healthcare industry leaders and examined various data sources to provide learnings and guidance on:
- Healthcare disparity challenge: How COVID-19 brings new urgency to addressing longstanding inequities in healthcare, particularly among Black Americans
- Role of telehealth: The potential of telehealth to improve outcomes for Black Americans, and key barriers to overcome
- Learnings: How policymakers, providers and advocates are addressing these challenges to increase access to healthcare
- Potential solutions: Recommendations and takeaways for healthcare stakeholders
Featuring insights and guidance from:
Ceasor Dennis, Senior Director of Institutional Culture, Climate & Community Engagement, UC Davis Health
Wanneh Dixon, Director of Programs, Strategy & Development, eHealth Initiative
Dr. William Lopez, M.D., CPE, National Medical Director, Virtual Care, Cigna
Dr. Gbenga Ogedegbe, Professor of Medicine and Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Director of the Institute for Excellence in Health Equity at NYU Langone
Denise White Perkins, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Healthcare Equality Initiatives and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs for the Department of Family Medicine, Henry Ford Health System