Why Providers Should Address Disparities in Telehealth Access

Delivering virtual care to everyone requires adaptation, training and deep insights into issues that can hinder a connection. Healthcare organizations nationwide have quickly launched or scaled up telehealth programs to ensure patients can safely receive necessary care while limiting their exposure to COVID-19.

Simply implementing virtual-visit technology to deliver high-quality care isn’t enough to serve vulnerable populations, Palakanis and other healthcare leaders know. Clinical workflows, staffing, training, infrastructure and payment models all need to be adjusted.

To address these needs, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles have released a series of reports that address the needs of underserved populations in California that provide several policy recommendations.