The Effect of Social Determinants of Health on Telemedicine Access During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

Social determinants of health contribute to inequalities in access to care and inferior outcomes in pediatric populations. Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, telemedicine was shown to be an effective tool to bridge the gap between health care providers and rural or underserved populations. The pandemic has rapidly changed the current landscape of health care. Telemedicine has played a critical role in health care delivery between providers and patients because of the need for social distancing. That being said, it has become apparent that SDOH have affected access to telemedicine for communities that already suffer from inequities in health care access. Solutions directed toward addressing issues such as lack of broadband access, digital literacy and language barriers, and obstacles within the health care system are crucial to ensure telemedicine access is equitable for all patients and does not contribute toward worsening health care disparities. [Pediatr Ann. 2022;51(8):e311-e315.].