Organizations Collaborate to Eliminate Virtual Healthcare Disparities
Various organizations across healthcare and academia have created an alliance to eliminate virtual healthcare disparities by increasing care access and building on digital health innovations.
To eliminate virtual healthcare disparities and increase accessibility, various organizations such as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Howard University College of Medicine, and the African American Wellness Project, have formed the Digital Health for Equitable Health (DHEH) Alliance.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant issues revolving around healthcare disparities and lack of access to care grew. Those who are a part of underserved communities often face barriers to obtaining high-quality care through telehealth and other digital health modalities.
The DHEH Alliance intends to address these health inequities by expanding access to virtual care and furthering digital health innovations through various efforts, including increasing the production of wearable and artificial intelligence devices.
"DHEH will be a change catalyst that transforms health for Americans in every corner of our nation, and we can do that by collaborating across different sectors and systems, and by leveraging resources to amplify, impact and mobilize resources for underserved communities," said Tanisha Hill, president of DHEH and US senior medical director, respiratory and digital health medical lead at Teva Pharmaceuticals, in the press release.
The goals of the DHEH include improving underserved communities access to data, digital solutions, digital health coverage, access to broadband, and digital health literacy.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devasting impact on all facets of society, but it expedited innovation in health technologies, and amplified the need for equitable approaches and technologies to address longstanding health challenges impacting vulnerable communities. That is why DHEH's work is so vital," said Michael R. Crawford, associate dean for strategy, outreach, and innovation, at Howard University College of Medicine, and DHEH vice president and inaugural partner, in the press release.
Various collaborations have made persistent efforts to improve access to care and provide underserved communities with necessary resources.
In May, Boston Children's Hospital began working with Summus Global to expand virtual access to pediatric specialists. In the collaboration, Summus Global is working with the innovation team and the physician faculty at Boston Children's Hospital to enhance the quality and accessibility of care.
In January, CVS Health joined forces with Uber Health to provide people with limited resources access to free transportation when traveling to clinics. Researchers noted that having no access to transportation is a critical social determinant of health that is often overlooked. The collaboration provides free transportation to high-risk populations in Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio, and Hartford, Connecticut.
In December 2021, Legacy Community Health, the largest federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Texas, stated that Houston Methodist made a $50 million donation to increase access to healthcare in the Houston area. The funds are being used to build two new community health clinics that will provide adult and pediatric primary care, comprehensive HIV care, specialty care such as endocrinology, and support services.