Expanding Access to Quality Care Through Virtual Health

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing disparities within the health care system, highlighting how vulnerable and underserved populations are often unable to access the care they need. People of color and minority groups have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, experiencing higher rates of infection and death. As the past year brought concerns about the inaccessibility of health care to light, health professionals and systems became more acutely aware of the widespread implications regarding population health outcomes.  

Barriers to Care

Individuals in rural communities have continuously faced significant access issues regarding health care when compared to those in urban areas. Rural Americans are more likely to die from conditions such as heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke due to contributing factors such as limited access to primary and emergency care, largely due to longer driving distances and lack of adequate public transportation options. 

With barriers to access continuing to impact vulnerable individuals, now is the time to implement innovative solutions and technology to move the needle and establish more equitable care.

Providing virtual care options such as telehealth, which has seen sky-high rates of adoption within the past year, and asynchronous care—quality care conducted without real-time interaction with a provider—are opportunities to address some of the key barriers to access, including transportation, language, health literacy, technology, cost, and physician shortages.

Transportation

Lack of transportation to health care services is an ongoing obstacle for vulnerable individuals, including low-income residents, minorities, children, persons with disabilities, and older adults, who may not have access to private vehicles or live within proximity to public transportation. Through telehealth, individuals can receive on-demand treatment within the comfort of their own homes for non-emergent care, which otherwise may have gone untreated and resulted in worsening health outcomes.

Language + Health Literacy

Language differences are a clear challenge when it comes to providing care, as non-English speakers may have difficulty communicating with providers that do not have translators on call. Through many asynchronous care solutions, technology can provide medically-certified translation to allow patients to communicate virtually in their language. This is also a situation where health literacy becomes a crucial consideration.

By removing medical jargon, introducing clinical intake and symptom-specific questions at a fourth grade reading level, and using images as easy guides, patients can more easily read and understand clinical content, improving the experience overall. 

Technology

Although the availability of technology is an obvious concern when it comes to accessing care digitally, there is often a misconception when it comes to treating low-income individuals. Ninety-two percent of adults earning less than $30,000 have cell phones, and 67% have smartphones.

Smartphone dependence continues to increase, and younger, low-income adults are particularly reliant on their phones for internet access, with 28%  stating they do not have broadband at home but use their smartphones for internet access.

Virtual health options can provide care on any device with an internet connection, which will be essential to expanding access to care - no broadband required.

Cost

Providing virtual care can also drive down costs, with telehealth services tending to be cheaper than in-person care. Asynchronous telehealth visits can be as low as $0-40 while the average cost of an in-person appointment is $146.

With health care costs varying widely between different organizations and surprise billing sticking people with exorbitant fees, providing patients with more affordable and convenient care options will go a long way towards making health care more accessible.

Provider Capacity

Physician shortages continue to challenge the US health care system, particularly in rural areas. Approximately 20% of the country’s population live in rural locations, yet only 9% of the physician population practice in rural communities.

By providing care virtually, physicians and other health care providers increase their capacity to treat more patients without exacerbating burnout. Automating provider workflows relating to patient appointments—including charting and billing, clinical intake, and pre-visit—also expands physician bandwidth so they can spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients to expand access, especially in areas with physician shortages.  

The Future of Virtual Care

The trend towards digital transformation in health care is empowering individuals to access the health care they need on their own time without facing the limitations of traditional care delivery.

Organizations need to continue to improve health care for patients and the populations they serve by leveraging virtual care solutions to best address health inequity and improve access, satisfaction, and outcomes for all patients.