A Prescription for Internet: Feasibility of a Tablet Loaner Program to Address Digital Health Inequities.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth technologies. Persistent disparities in telecommunication devices, internet connectivity, and digital literacy, however, undermine the potential for telemedicine to reduce barriers to health care access. Health systems may have a role in addressing these structural inequities. We describe the operationalization and feasibility of an internet-enabled tablet loaner program at a freestanding children's hospital.

Methods

Between October 2020 and October 2021, pediatricians enrolled families through ambulatory clinics at an academic urban freestanding children's hospital. Eligibility criteria included difficulty accessing virtual care due to lack of stable internet or device. Tablets featured a

SUBMITTER: Brewster RCL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10097475 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature