Evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration's Digital Divide Consult for Tablet Distribution and Telehealth Adoption: Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Video telehealth offers a mechanism to help Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients overcome health care access barriers; however, many veterans lack a suitable device and sufficient internet connectivity. To address disparities in technology access, VHA established a Connected Device Program that offers veterans loaned video-capable tablets and internet service. In 2020, VHA introduced a national Digital Divide Consult to facilitate and standardize referrals for this resource.

Objective

We sought to evaluate the reach and impact of VHA's Connected Device Program, leveraging Digital Divide Consult data to determine whether resources are supporting veterans with health care needs and access barriers.

Methods

We examined the reach of VHA's Connected Dev

SUBMITTER: Ferguson JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11420580 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature