Analyzing and Addressing Telemedicine Barriers Among Lubbock Medicaid Patients

Abstract

There has been a widespread demand for virtual medicine since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are pertinent limitations, such as reliable internet, Zoom-capable technology, and technological literacy. Using retrospective chart review, a survey questionnaire was sent using Qualtrics Software to Medicaid patients seen at the Texas Tech Physicians Family Medicine Clinic from 2020 - 2022 with the goal of identifying potential barriers that may exist regarding telemedicine access in Lubbock, TX. More than half of the respondents (57%) reported never participating in a telemedicine visit, even though most respondents (76%) are semi-proficient with the use of technology. Almost half of respondents cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for why they began utilizing telemedicine (47%). Respondents did not use telemedicine because they were unaware that the service was an option or available for them specifically (43%). The underutilization of virtual medicine can, in large part, be attributed to lack of publicity on the availability of telemedicine as a source of medical care. We sent virtual flyers to all Lubbock Medicaid patients to increase awareness and education on the benefits and practical uses of telemedicine in a wide variety of medical conditions. Additionally, we sent virtual flyers to physicians to help increase the number of practitioners offering telemedicine services. By increasing the usage of virtual medicine and diminishing the effects of associated barriers, telemedicine has the potential to create greater equity in access to health care.