Socioeconomic Disparities in Patient Use of Telehealth During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Surge

January 14, 2021

Ilaaf Darrat, MD, MBA; Samantha Tam, MD, MPH; Marwan Boulis, MD; Amy M. Williams, PhD

JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

This study evaluated factors associated with telehealth usage in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan. Between March 17 to May 1, 2020, virtual, telephone, and in-person visits as well as no-shows were analyzed. Those who were older, had Medicare insurance, and were in the two lowest quartiles of household income were less likely to complete a virtual visit compared to telephone or in-person visits before and after adjustment for age, sex, insurance type (including Medicaid, public insurance, and no insurance status), and household income. In univariate analyses comparing those who completed a virtual or telephone visit to those who were no-shows, those in the lowest two quartiles of median household income, Black patients, and patients with Medicaid, no insurance, or other public insurance had a lower likelihood of completing a virtual or telephone visit. Overall, these results indicate the importance of considering variables that impact patients’ participation in telehealth differs to improve access to appropriate healthcare.

Darrat I, Tam S, Boulis M, Williams AM. Socioeconomic Disparities in Patient Use of Telehealth During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Surge. JAMA Otolaryngol Neck Surg 2021; published online Jan 14. DOI:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.5161.

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