Introduction
The transformative power of telehealth in healthcare delivery was demonstrated during the COVID-19 period but disparities in access and use of technology represent a key barrier to its widespread adoption. Therefore, digital literacy interventions are crucial to promoting the utilization of this innovation. At the policy level, Bejarano (2022) notes that providing assistive technology devices is critical to ensuring that no one is left behind. This intervention will ensure people with special needs can access telehealth tools with disability accommodations.
Discussion
Other groups affected by the growing digital divide in access to telemedicine include minorities and low-income households. Onboarding these populations will require educational programs at the community level. Hernandez-Ramos et al. (2021) recommend upfront support services delivered remotely to address digital illiteracy among vulnerable groups. Hospital staff can be paired with patients to offer technical assistance on a demand basis. This approach may be used with elderly patients over 65 years old or minority groups who are most likely to lack a laptop or smartphone (Bejarano, 2022). For poor neighborhoods, targeted digital education can help decrease disparities in access and use of telemedicine.
In addition to training, deliberate efforts should be made to provide the infrastructure. For example, increasing the penetration of broadband internet in rural areas through subsidies and providing technology devices to poor households would help increase the participation of underserved groups in telehealth (Eruchalu et al., 2021). At the hospital level, providers can collaborate with community colleges to deliver digital literacy training.
Conclusion
The program should be tailored to the needs of the patients, offered in the local language, and include technical assistance offered virtually or in person (Eruchalu et al., 2021). The training would equip participants with digital literacy skills to use mobile health applications to alleviate the skills barrier.
References
Bejarano, G. (2022). Digital literacy, health inequities, and the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Public Health, 112(4), 588-589. Web.
Eruchalu, C. N., Pichardo, M. S., Bharadwaj, M., Rodriguez, C. B., Rodriguez, J. A., Bergmark, R. W., Bates, D. W., & Ortega, G. (2021). The expanding digital divide: Digital health access inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Journal of Urban Health, 98(2), 183-186. Web.
Hernandez-Ramos, R., Aguilera, A., Garcia, F., Miramontes-Gomez, J., Pathak, L. E., Figueroa, C. A., & Lyles, C. R. (2021). Conducting internet-based visits for onboarding populations with limited digital literacy to an mhealth intervention: Development of a patient-centered approach. JMIR Formative Research, 5(4), 1-5. Web.