Telemedicine has Increased Access to Care for Black Patients
Black patients were more likely to use telemedicine for surgical consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic than White patients, according to the results of a recent retrospective analysis.
To better understand the relationship between virtual visits and in-person visits among various races/ethnicities and insurance types, the researchers analyzed data from the Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery at a Massachusetts medical center. The analysis was conducted in 2 phases: phase 1 from March to June 2020 and phase 2 from June to December 2020. During phase 1, Massachusetts had issued a stay-at-home order, and elective surgeries were suspended.
During phase 1 of the study, there were no significant differences in virtual visits (n = 638) compared with in-person visits (n = 347) among racial/ethnic or insurance groups. However, Latinx patients were less likely to use video compared with audio-only virtual visits than White patients. Black race and insurance type were not significant predictors of video use during virtual visits.
Included in phase 2 of the study were 2922 in-person and 1001 virtual visits. The results indicated that Black patients were more likely to have virtual visits than White patients. There were no significant differences across insurance types, and there were no significant predictors of video use. Older patients, patients with lower education levels, and patients with English as a second language were less likely to use video during virtual visits. Women were more likely to use telemedicine than men.
“Black patients utilized telemedicine platforms more often than White patients during the second phase of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the researchers concluded. “Virtual consultation may help increase access to surgical care among traditional under-resourced populations.”
—Leigh Precopio
References:
- Eruchalu CN, Bergmark RW, Smink DS, et al. Demographic disparity in use of telemedicine for ambulatory general surgical consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of the initial public health emergency and second phase periods. J Am Coll Surg. Published online January 6, 2022. doi:10.1097/XCS.0000000000000030
- Telemedicine may increase surgical care for historically underrepresented patient groups. News release. Brigham and Women’s Hospital; January 14, 2022. Accessed January 17, 2022. https://www.brighamandwomens.org/about-bwh/newsroom/research-briefs-detail?id=4078