Persistence of Unequal Access to Classical Hematology Telemedicine Visits by Race and Other Demographics During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background:

Unequal access to telemedicine services exacerbates health inequities and was evident at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to explore whether unequal access persisted within a classical hematology division beyond the peak of COVID-19.

Methods:

Patient demographics by virtual visit type (telephone only [TO] or video only [VO]) between March 2020 and December 2021 were analyzed using adjusted odds ratio (aOR).

Results:

Of 8,207 patients, 18.4% had TO and 28.4% had VO visits. Fewer Black (21.8%; aOR 0.5 [0.4–0.62]), Hispanic or Latino (18.8%; 0.45 [0.34–0.59]), Spanish-speaking (7.6%; 0.32 [0.19–0.54]), high school (21.2%; 0.64 [0.52–0.78]), and older (24.2%) patients used VO compared with White (30.6%), English-speaking (29.5%), college (31%), postgraduate (34.9%), and younger (35.4%) patients.

Conclusions:

Groups that historically experience health inequities had fewer VO visits during and beyond the pandemic peak. Thus, there is a need to continue digital inclusion efforts to promote video access equity.