Crossing the digital divide: a veteran affairs program to distribute video-enabled devices to patients in a supportive housing program.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Evaluate an initiative to distribute video-enabled tablets and cell phones to individuals enrolled in Veterans Health Affairs supportive housing program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and methods

In September 2020, individuals in the Veteran Health Affairs (VA) Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program were offered either a video-enabled tablet or cellphone to support their communication and health care engagement needs. We examined sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of device recipients, and compared engagement in in-person, telephone, and video-based visits (categorized as primary care, specialty care, rehabilitation, HUD-VASH, mental health care, and other) for 6 months prior to (March 1, 2020-August 31, 2020) and

SUBMITTER: Wray CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9053098 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature