https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BridgingDigitalDivideProvidersPlans.pdf
Introduction
A plethora of digital health tools for patients have been developed in the United States over recent years, including mobile phone applications, wearable devices, and technology linked to health care data, such as patient portals.1 However, there are large inequities in who is using these digital tools. The goal of this two-part series, “Bridging the Digital Health Divide,” is to provide key stakeholders with action-oriented recommendations to ensure digital health technology meets the needs of diverse patients. The goal is to ensure all patients benefit from digital health tools regardless of their cultural background, language, income, race, or ethnicity. The audience for this issue brief includes those who implement digital health products and services, including health care providers; leaders of hospitals, clinics, and health systems; information technology staff; and payers. The challenges described in the series — including the digital divide as well as digital health inequities — are multifaceted. Approaches to address these challenges must reach patients where they are, whether at the doctor’s office, at home, or on the go. The other brief in the series discusses the challenges for technology developers in ensuring equitable digital health design and suggests design principles that can help them overcome these challenges. With a focus on equity and inclusion during implementation and design, health care providers, health plans, and developers can create technology that better reaches everyone.
Why Change Is Needed
It has never been more apparent that digital health in the US needs to be more inclusive. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need for remote and digital approaches to complete everyday tasks, such as going to school or seeing the doctor. The rapid conversion to remote health care delivery via telemedicine also highlighted key pitfalls of our existing digital health infrastructure....