Reaching the Latino Population: a Brief Conceptual Discussion on the Use of Telehealth to Address Healthcare Disparities for the Large and Growing Population

Abstract

Latinos collectively rank as the largest ethnic minority population in the USA, with estimates suggesting continued growth into the future. Despite the Latino population being identified as a demographic in need of greater medical and mental health care, a lack of adequate services, as well as underutilization, persists. Specifically, local availability of services, language barriers, transportation issues, health insurance coverage, immigration status, and acculturation levels are among the many challenges precluding Latinos from receiving appropriate care. Telehealth has been suggested as a novel means of addressing recognized disparities, specifically for Latinos who have been indicated as a population with greater utilization of the Internet and associated technologies than other population groups. As such, the purpose of this conceptual discussion is to briefly detail the unique possibilities that the integration of technology can hold for Latino-focused medical and mental health care. Opportunities for improved education, prompting of recommendation usage, monitoring of vitals, and application of other direct treatments are discussed in relation to the most common medical and mental health issues faced by Latinos.