Telemedicine Access for Urban Low-Income Patients Explored
New York, Thursday, 8 May 2025.
A study reveals barriers hindering telemedicine adoption in urban low-income communities, emphasizing the need for strategies to enhance telemedicine access, especially in orthopedic care.
Demographics and Barriers
A comprehensive study conducted between September 2022 and September 2023 revealed significant insights into telemedicine adoption among urban, low-income populations. The research, involving 364 patients with complete medical records, showed that 85.2% were Black and 67.9% were female, with a mean age of 46.3 years [1]. While 59.4% expressed interest in future telemedicine appointments, 60.5% were skeptical about telemedicine’s ability to address their current medical concerns [1].
Socioeconomic Factors
Education levels and insurance type emerged as critical determinants of telemedicine adoption. Patients with less than high school education showed significantly decreased odds of engaging with telemedicine services (OR = 0.38) [1]. Similarly, those with point-of-service insurance faced substantial barriers to adoption (OR = 0.038) [1]. These findings align with broader research showing that socioeconomic factors significantly influence healthcare technology adoption patterns [2].
Specialty-Specific Variations
The study identified notable variations in telemedicine acceptance across medical specialties. Pediatric patients showed remarkably higher odds of future telemedicine enrollment (OR = 13.55), while spine surgery patients demonstrated significantly lower likelihood of participation (OR = 0.10) [1]. This disparity highlights the need for specialty-specific approaches in telemedicine implementation [1]. Recent advances in telemedicine for dementia care further demonstrate how different medical conditions require tailored virtual care approaches [3].
Future Implementation Strategies
Healthcare providers are actively developing strategies to enhance telemedicine accessibility. Germany and Europe are leading digital innovation with collaborative health data use at a continental level, providing potential models for improving telehealth access [4]. Additionally, recent implementations in maternal health programs demonstrate how combining virtual and in-person care can increase healthcare access in underserved communities [5].