Disparities in Health Care and the Digital Divide

Saeed, Sy Atezaz; Masters, Ross MacRae

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Disparities in health outcomes are a well documented and worrisome part of our health care system. These disparities persist in spite of, and are occasionally exacerbated by, new technologies that are intended to improve health care. This results in a “digital divide” in which populations that have poorer health outcomes continue to have poorer health outcomes despite technological improvements. RECENT FINDINGS: In many ways, the digitical divide is already shrinking via improved access to internet and technology/process improvements. For example, people with schizophrenia, PTSD, and bipolar disorder have had their care successfully augmented by new technology. However, problems persist- being impoverished, female, and black all correlate with decreased probability of completing a telehealth visit, and millions of americans have insufficient internet access to complete telehealth visits. SUMMARY: We must continue to utilize new technology in health care to improve outcomes, but we must also be wary to ensure those outcomes are equitable across different populations.