How Telehealth can Address Healthcare Inequalities

In many parts of rural America, access to healthcare isn’t just limited. It’s often delayed, distant, or entirely unavailable. Long drives to the nearest clinic, overbooked doctors, and limited specialists mean that preventive care is often replaced by emergency visits. Chronic conditions go unmanaged. Mental health issues get overlooked. And people, especially working adults, learn to live with discomfort simply because help feels out of reach. But virtual healthcare is changing that. Telehealth has quietly become one of the most important shifts in American healthcare. It’s not just about convenience, it's about access. For people, living miles from the nearest hospital, a video consultation could be the difference between getting help early or letting a condition worsen. More than that, digital care platforms now offer tools that go beyond one-off consultations. They provide daily support, health tracking, lifestyle guidance, and even mental health check-ins. They did all without needing to step into a clinic. One example of this shift is Friska.ai. Friska.ai is an AI-powered health platform designed to make personalized care accessible on a daily basis. It offers custom nutrition advice, yoga and fitness routines, sleep and stress management strategies, and tools to help people manage conditions like diabetes. It even generates intelligent health reports that doctors can use for proactive care. More importantly, platforms like Friska.ai allow doctors to monitor the health of entire populations remotely; spotting patterns, catching red flags early, and providing care to people who might otherwise slip through the cracks. This is what it means to reshape healthcare. It's not about replacing doctors. It's about reaching the people who have historically had the least access. It's about making health guidance a part of daily life, not just something you get in emergencies. As America continues to invest in digital health infrastructure, the question becomes: how do we ensure the tools being built are truly inclusive? FriskaAi is one step in that direction. A part of a much larger shift that prioritizes proactive, accessible, and patient-centered care.

Recent discussions have highlighted significant gaps in telehealth access, particularly affecting non-English speakers and older adults experiencing homelessness. These groups often face barriers such as limited digital literacy, language obstacles, and inadequate access to necessary technology, which hinder their ability to benefit from telehealth services. Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted approach. Implementing culturally sensitive telehealth platforms, providing language interpretation services, and offering community-based digital literacy programs are essential steps toward equitable healthcare access. Moreover, policymakers must prioritize infrastructure improvements to ensure reliable internet connectivity in underserved areas. As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to advocate for and implement solutions that bridge these gaps. By fostering inclusive telehealth practices, we can move closer to a healthcare system that serves all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status or linguistic background. https://lnkd.in/gjtZCqJ7

When the government shuts down, most people think about airports or parks. I think about the millions of underserved patients who suddenly lose the thin layer of access they fought hard to gain over the last few years. Now that Washington has reopened, the spotlight is back where it should be: the future of telehealth. The Telehealth Modernization Act (H.R. 5081) is moving again, and for underserved communities, this is not a policy footnote; it’s lifeline-level important. The bill would extend the pandemic-era flexibilities that let people receive care from home, outside traditional clinic hours, without outdated geographic restrictions that have historically made access a privilege, not a right. For patients juggling two jobs, caring for kids, lacking transportation, or living miles from the nearest clinic, telehealth isn’t a convenience. It’s survival-level infrastructure. At beHuman, we see this every day. Our early cancer screening and prevention programs reach people who’ve been left out of the system: people who often haven’t had a screening in 5, 10, sometimes 15 years. Telehealth is how they finally step through the front door of healthcare. H.R. 5081 helps keep that door open. For those who want the source material: Bill text → https://lnkd.in/eAA7iRbZ Policy overview → https://lnkd.in/ebuD9wgS Reopening the government is good news. Reopening access is even better — and this bill decides whether we keep it that way. This single bill has more impact on care for underserved communities than half the federal agencies that were offline.

Numerous interviews by the United Nations Task Force on #NCDs #UNIATF with people with lived of experience of non-communicable diseases #NCDs and #mentalhealth conditions showed general consensus that #digital solutions, when used appropriately, are beneficial and empowering and increase people’s agency over their #health All the participants used digital #technology to manage their conditions, from search engines for access to health information to #telemedicine for interaction with health providers and applications for self-management Their health-seeking behaviour also improved; for a person living with #dementia, virtual consultations overcame their #anxiety in asking for advice from a practitioner, and solutions such as mobile messaging provided discreet access to support #Digital solutions also gave them more support from advocates and carers; for example, for a parent of a #child living with type 1 #T1D diabetes, remote monitoring of glucose levels averts potential crises They also described concerns and challenges, such as limited interaction with health providers and feeling less supported, especially for an initial consultation when a relationship with a #health worker had not yet been built. Digital technology was considered a barrier to access to health care in areas with unreliable Internet coverage or with high connection costs The following solutions were proposed: • a centralized catalogue of evidence-based solutions with demonstrated health benefits, drawn up by specialists. This would also be helpful for health-care professionals • enforcement of standards and regulations to safeguard patients’ data, privacy and well-being • co-development of solutions and strategic frameworks with patients and their advocates. Technology developers and policymakers should create an advisory group, including people with lived experience • coordination of culture change in health care with digital health by sensitization to the value of digital technology to empower patients and digital literacy training to ensure uptake by health workers • partnerships between Internet and telecom providers and governments or health providers to increase access to technology and ensure equitable coverage with digital health for all communities To fully realize the benefits of digital technology for patients, there must be meaningful engagement from the outset. People with lived experience should be systematically involved in developing solutions, policies and strategies A collective effort is required to accelerate the reach and impact of digital solutions for more patients in a responsible, #equitable way, regardless of #education, #ability, #economic level or #location Guy Fones Alexey Kulikov Jeremy Farrar Alain Labrique World Health Organization   https://lnkd.in/eQDBv9cN

The discourse around Telehealth in this country is embarrassing. I spoke with David Swan from the SMH about the harm Australia's primitive approach to telehealth is doing to patients. https://lnkd.in/g4kPiQz6 A continued doom-loop of data free rants about how online platforms disrupt continuity of care or anecdotes about individual examples of unsafe prescribing. It is time to acknowledge the practical realities of the situation. Millions of patients are using telehealth platforms to access care as access to primary care becomes more difficult. Doing this without integration into the existing system can be dangerous and so regulation around how these platforms work should exist. We need to have a data backed conversation around how to do this, not an anecdote oriented whine about the existence of these platforms. The labelling of Telehealth as "tick and flick" prescribing deliberately ignores the reality and harms patients. At Eucalyptus we have shown through the Juniper obesity program that Telehealth can deliver high quality, high continuity care. The research shows the difference this can make to patient outcomes: Juniper patients were 4.5 times more likely to lose significant weight (>5%), compared to the phase 3 clinical trial of the same medication https://lnkd.in/gZmcJjfT NICE have shown with their approach to obesity management in the NHS what pragmatic interaction with Telehealth platforms can look like. https://lnkd.in/gfu3egrK The solution is simple: - Mandatory accreditation before you can open a Telehealth clinic, in-line with the EQuIP6 accreditation from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (Eucalyptus has already voluntarily joined. - Standards around interoperability and integration with the broader system - Standards around reporting of patient outcomes If we can shift the conversation forward and mature our approach to technology, we can create a system where Telehealth can be a pivotal part of solving an access problem that is going nowhere, and can deliver better patient outcomes in our most stubborn chronic diseases.

The rapid rise of health technology offers incredible potential to improve healthcare access and outcomes globally. However, ensuring that this revolution does not exacerbate existing #digitaldisparities is crucial. A wide range of digital health solutions have been developed over the past decade, including patient apps and wearables, augmenting care journeys, and patient touchpoints. But are these innovations #accessible and usable by all population segments? Addressing major technology-related barriers that hinder people from using new #digitalhealthtools such as providing broadband and computer access, is necessary to ensure greater adoption of such tools. According to a 2023 report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), global internet usage has reached 63.1%, but significant gaps remain. Only 32.9% of the population has access in low- and middle-income countries, with Africa and Western Asia still dependent on slower wireless systems. UNCTAD's report highlights that internet usage is three times lower in rural areas compared to urban ones and 5% lower for women than men. These stats highlight the importance of equal access to the internet, which is crucial for bridging #digitalinequities and ensuring everyone can adopt essential #healthtechnologies. Technology is more likely to be used if it meets a pressing need that a specific group of people considers relevant. Digital #healthstakeholders should partner with populations to understand what is important to them. This could range from culturally responsive health education to integrated community support, including collaborations with key community organisations to provide required education and support for digital health tools. Health providers and leaders should pay particular attention to defining specific needs that the proposed technology addresses and ensure that they clearly communicate the value that technology brings to all stakeholders. Access and #digitalequity are essential for transforming current health systems into more equitable and accessible models of care. To achieve true digital transformation, we must prioritise people and processes, adopting a human-centered approach that can drive meaningful and lasting change.

New Zealand faces significant challenges in achieving health equity, particularly for Māori children and those from low socio-economic areas. There are several measures that we can deploy to enhance performance concerning the digital determinants of health. The National Child Health Information Platform (NCHIP) has demonstrated initial success in improving equity in basic health-care provision for children. The platform collates child demographic information and health-care milestones, resulting in a statistically significant improvement in indicators such as GP enrolment and immunisation rates, especially in Māori communities. Further expansion and optimisation of such integrated platforms can bridge the gap in health-care service delivery. The rapid digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted significant gaps in digital access. Measures should focus on improving digital literacy, broadband access, and affordability of digital technologies. Investments in modernising digital infrastructure are essential to support equitable access to digital health services. Collecting and analysing data on digital determinants of health can provide insights into the impact of digital health services. Developing a comprehensive framework to measure digital health equity, can guide the design and implementation of digital health interventions. Telehealth can also significantly enhance healthcare access for remote and underserved populations. During the pandemic, telehealth encounters increased dramatically, providing a model for ongoing expansion. Policies should support the integration of telehealth into the regular healthcare system, ensuring it is accessible and affordable for all. Collaboration between government, healthcare providers, technology developers, and community organisations is essential to develop collaborative frameworks. Regular assessment of digital health technologies’ impact on health disparities is necessary. Frameworks such as RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) can be adapted to evaluate and refine digital health interventions continuously, ensuring they meet equity goals. By focusing on these measures, New Zealand can enhance its performance in addressing the digital determinants of health, ensuring more equitable healthcare access and outcomes for all its citizens. Aceso Health Digital Health Association (DHA) Samantha Ford

31,000 post offices across America. 60 million Americans struggling to access basic healthcare (100 million can't afford it). 180+ rural hospitals closed since 2005. What is we equip post offices with basic medical technology? Imagine: * Walk into your local post office * Step into a private health room * Basic diagnostic tools: blood pressure monitor, oximeter, EKG, digital stethoscope * Perhaps the postal service employee has even had some medical training to help use these and some more complicated tools * Connect with a doctor via secure video in under 30 minutes * Your prescription is mailed to you or can be picked up at a local pharmacy (maybe the USPS even stocks the safest / most common meds?) No more 3-hour drives for a blood pressure check. No more choosing between work and health. No more waiting until it's an emergency. The USPS already serves every American address. The infrastructure exists. The technology is proven. Telehealth usage jumped 38x during COVID and stayed high because it works. We don't have enough doctors or hospitals. Let's create access points for routine care, chronic disease management, and urgent (not emergency) needs. Medicare/Medicaid could reimburse visits. Private insurance could follow. Rural Americans get care. Post offices get revenue. The healthcare system saves billions on preventable ER visits. What's your take? #HealthcareAccess #RuralHealth #Innovation #USPS #Telehealth

As a physical therapist, I have embraced virtual care, not as a replacement for in-person care, but rather, as an adjunct. One of the biggest impediments to clinical progress is adherent care. If a patient cannot access appropriate healthcare services, the outcomes will likely suffer. By thoughtfully integrating virtual and in-person care, we can leverage the strengths of each to enhance a patient's overall treatment experience, making it more efficient, accessible, and tailored to their needs. Telehealth and digital services are effective in many fields: A study in the Journal of Patient Experience compared 16,685 urgent care visits (14,734 in-person and 1,262 virtual) over a year. It found that virtual urgent care visits were significantly shorter (9.38 minutes) and cheaper ($49) compared to in-person urgent care visits (70.89 minutes and $142.66, respectively). A systematic review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, covering 30 studies with over 5 million participants, found that virtual consultations are as effective as, or more effective than, face-to-face care for managing conditions like mental illness, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Virtual care was noted for its efficiency, including reduced waiting times and lower patient costs Studies in the journals Surgery and the American Journal of Surgery found postoperative telemedicine visits are safe, time-efficient, and maintain high patient satisfaction, making them a viable alternative to in-person follow-ups for low-risk general surgeries. The Virtual Musculoskeletal Solutions Health Technology Assessment highlights that virtual health technologies, when guided by physical therapists, can provide “clinically meaningful improvements” in pain and function for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. A survey by Assurance, an insurance company, found that while 27% of Americans initially had a negative perception of telemedicine, 90% would recommend it after trying it. As digital resources advance and health literacy improves, patients gain more flexibility in managing their health. Providers often act more as coaches, guiding them through their treatment journey.

Are we ignoring 16% of the population? Preventing them from getting high-quality care? 1,3 billion people worldwide have a significant disability. Unfortunately, they are also experiencing health inequities: - Likely to die 20 years earlier - Experience poorer health - Inaccessible health facilities Investing in health equity for people with disabilities means preventing more serious and costly health issues down the line. Digital health and AI have the potential to increase or decrease these disparities. Here’s how: Decrease disparities: 1. Improved accessibility: Can make healthcare more accessible for people with mobility limitations or those living in remote areas through telemedicine and remote monitoring. 2. Personalized care: AI algorithms can analyze large datasets to provide personalized treatment recommendations, potentially improving care for individuals with complex or rare conditions. 3. Assistive technologies: AI tools like speech recognition software or smart prosthetics can improve independence and quality of life for people with disabilities. 4. Early detection: AI algorithms can help identify health issues earlier, potentially leading to better outcomes for people with disabilities who may be at higher risk for certain conditions. 5. Reduced bias: Well-designed AI tools could potentially reduce human bias in healthcare decision-making, leading to more equitable care. Increase disparities: 1. Digital divide: Not all people with disabilities have equal access to digital technologies or the internet, potentially exacerbating existing healthcare disparities. 2. Algorithmic bias: If AI systems are trained on datasets that underrepresent people with disabilities, they may produce biased or inaccurate results for this population. 3. Potential for discrimination: The use of AI in healthcare decision-making could potentially lead to discrimination if not carefully monitored and regulated. 4. Overreliance on technology: An excessive focus on digital solutions could lead to neglect of necessary in-person care or human touch in healthcare delivery. 5. Accessibility challenges: If digital health tools are not designed with accessibility in mind, they may create new barriers for people with certain disabilities. The rapid advancement of digital health and AI can significantly change how healthcare will look in the future. We need to ensure that these technologies promote equity for people with disabilities, instead of preventing it. What are you doing to improve health equity? Interested in this topic. Read the full WHO report - link in the comment.