Equity Gaps in Telehealth Use to Manage Chronic Conditions During COVID-19

UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute: Equity Gaps in Telehealth Use to Manage Chronic Conditions During COVID-19

A study by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute found that since COVID-19 emerged, language barriers have prevented Latino and Asian patients in Los Angeles from making full use of telehealth services. The research also revealed that Black and white patients had greater ease with video visits, and that some older patients and those with limited access to technology, particularly Latinos, relied on family members to help them access telehealth services. Additionally, telehealth appointments by phone (more than 80 percent) were much more common than video telehealth appointments. The findings underscore the need for care providers to take into account the roles that patients’ race, ethnicity, age and primary language play in how telehealth services are adopted.