Health equity is often at the forefront of many healthcare related discussions and concerns, and this is especially true when considering telehealth. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines health equity as “the opportunity for everyone to receive the health care they need and deserve, regardless of social or economic status.”
Leveraging Telehealth in Long-Term Care
Toolkit assembled by the University of Virginia to leverage telehealth in long term care and promote best practices for supporting vulnerable populations.
Using Telehealth to Provide Care Delivery Options to Patients
Case study highlighting Jefferson Health’s telehealth program, offering patients diverse care options, and promoting collaboration among providers, patients, and caregivers. The program’s emphasis on provider education and support to providers has resulted in increased comfort in using telehealth with vulnerable populations.
A Practical Guide to Telehealth: Implementing telehealth in post-acute and long-term care settings
Toolkit to support organizations that want to effectively implement telehealth in post-acute and long-term care settings.
A practical guide to expanding home-based primary care with telehealth.
Toolkit to support organizations that want to more efficiently deliver home-based care to older adults.
Using Telehealth to Expand Healthcare Access for Older Adults
Case study highlighting how the Geisinger at Home program utilized telehealth services, incorporating a physician extender care model and community health assistants, to expand their outreach to homebound patients in rural areas.
Identifying Barriers to Telehealth Home-Based Palliative Care for Patients with Serious Illness — The HomePal Study
Research report on the HomePal study which provides evidence and policy guidance to ensure effective, quality home-based palliative care through telehealth.
Perceived benefits of geriatric specialty telemedicine among rural patients and caregivers
Benefits of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of geriatric specialty telemedicine service (GRECC Connect) among older patients and caregivers in rural areas
Competencies for video telemedicine with older adult patients
Manuscript describes competencies for telemedicine with older adults for health professionals who treat them.
Connecting the disconnect: Leveraging an in-home team member for video visits for older adults
A study showing gaps in the digital divide between older and young adults using video visits.
Telehealth with older adults: Getting it right
Telehealth being available for older adults can only have a clear advantage if there are guidelines in place to help facilitate its deployment and use. This specifically is targeted towards older patients who may be “complex” or “vulnerable” in these settings. The guidelines are sorted into 3 main categories in which each domain must be considered in order to ensure high-quality telehealth-facilitated care will be able to properly be delivered to older adults.
Older adults can use technology: why healthcare professionals must overcome ageism in digital health.
Bringing attention to “ageism” and the common misconception that older adults aging >65 are unable or unwilling to use digital health. However, the use of technology among older adults has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.