Disparities in Utilization of Outpatient Telemedicine for Neurologic Care
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background and Objectives: To characterize outpatient telemedicine utilization for neurologic conditions and identify potential disparities. Methods: All outpatient visits conducted by neurology clinicians at an academic medical health care system for patients aged 18 years or older from January 2019 to July 2022 were included. All telemedicine visits were synchronous audio-visual. Patients completing in-person visits alone were compared with patients completing telemedicine visits. Utilization of telemedicine was compared across 3 time frames: prepandemic (before March 2020), early-pandemic (March-June 2020), and late-pandemic (July 2020-July 2022). Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate whether the odds of a visit being telemedicine vs in-person differed based on the time frame and to predict likelihood of telemedicine vs in-person visit in late pandemic time frame. Results: = 0.09). Discussion: Disparities in telemedicine persist with lower use in individuals who were older, Black, Hispanic, non-English preferred language, and lower socioeconomic status. These disparities improved initially but were accentuated later in the pandemic. The equal utilization of telemedicine by rural and urban patients in this study suggests the potential of telemedicine to improve access disparities for rural patients. The implementation of equitable health care delivery will require a better understanding of barriers, preferences, and legislation needed to support equitable telemedicine access.
Source: Neurology Clinical Practice
Authors: Marisa Patryce McGinley, Tucker Harvey, Daniel Ontaneda, Allison L. Weathers, Bryan R. Cobb, Anisha Patel
Institutions: Cleveland Clinic, Genentech
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4404559919