Disparities in telemedicine utilization among surgical patients during COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telemedicine has been rapidly adopted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is limited work surrounding demographic and socioeconomic disparities that may exist in telemedicine utilization. This study aimed to examine demographic and socioeconomic differences in surgical patient telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Department of Surgery outpatients seen from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 were stratified into three visit groups: pre-COVID-19 in-person, COVID-19 in-person, or COVID-19 telemedicine. Generalized linear models were used to examine associations of sex, race/ethnicity, Distressed Communities Index (DCI) scores, MyChart activation, and insurance status with telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

14,792 pat

SUBMITTER: Lattimore CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8500431 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature