Epilepsia: Telemedicine as a Path to Bridging Inequities in Patients with Epilepsy

Epilepsia: Telemedicine as a Path to Bridging Inequities in Patients with Epilepsy

Access to epilepsy specialist care is not uniform in the US with prominent gaps in rural areas. In this retrospective study, social determinants of health were collected for all adult patients scheduled in epilepsy clinic, either as an in-person or telemedicine appointment at University of Kentucky between July 2021 till December 2022. The no-show rate was significantly higher for in-person visits (32 percent) compared with telemedicine visits (20 percent). Telemedicine was effective at improving attendance, overcoming socioeconomic hurdles, and widening access to epilepsy care, particularly among under-served population. Access to telehealth depended on insurance coverage and emphasized the need to include telemedicine in insurance plans to ensure uniform access to high-quality epilepsy care, irrespective of socioeconomic status.