Pediatric Telehealth Access and Utilization in Chicago During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Telemed J E Health
; 29(9): 1324-1331, 2023 09.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36730746
ABSTRACT
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic demanded rapid development of telemedicine services for pediatric care and highlighted disparities for marginalized communities.Objective:
To understand the demographic characteristics of patients with completed and incomplete telemedicine visits at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.Methods:
This was a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of telemedicine visits for patients <25 years old scheduled between March 21, 2020, and March 17, 2021. We examined visit outcomes and compared outcomes by race/ethnicity, language, and payer using logistic regression. Geographic information system mapping and linear regression were used to examine the relationship between incomplete visits and broadband access within Cook County.Results:
A total of 13,655 eligible video visits were scheduled for children within 147 ZIP codes during the study time frame. Patient characteristics included median age 9 years, 53% female, 42% non-Latinx White, 31% Latinx, 13% non-Latinx Black, 11% non-Latinx other, and 3% declined/unknown. Preferred language was 89% English, 10% Spanish, and 1% other. Payer was 56% private, 43% public, and <1% other/self-pay. Overall, 86% video visits were completed, 7% cancelled, and 7% no-show with significant variation by patient demographic. Odds of incomplete visits were higher for Latinx patients (odds ratio [OR] 1.93) and non-Latinx Black patients (OR 2.33) than for non-Latinx White patients, patients with preferred language other than English (OR 1.53), and patients not privately insured (OR 1.89). Incomplete visit rates and broadband access were inversely related.Conclusion:
System and policy solutions are needed to ensure equitable access and address disparities in incomplete telemedicine visits for marginalized populations in urban areas with lower broadband.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Telemedicina
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article