Using routinely available electronic health record data elements to develop and validate a digital divide risk score.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Digital health (patient portals, remote monitoring devices, video visits) is a routine part of health care, though the digital divide may affect access.

Objectives

To test and validate an electronic health record (EHR) screening tool to identify patients at risk of the digital divide.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective EHR data extraction and cross-sectional survey of participants within 1 health care system. We identified 4 potential digital divide markers from the EHR: (1) mobile phone number, (2) email address, (3) active patient portal, and (4) >2 patient portal logins in the last year. We mailed surveys to patients at higher risk (missing all 4 markers), intermediate risk (missing 1-3 markers), or lower risk (missing no markers). Combin

SUBMITTER: Faro JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11792649 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature