NEWS
Creating equity for rural West Virginians as digital health expands
Creating an equitable and inclusive healthcare system in West Virginia means ensuring rural West Virginia is at the forefront of any efforts to advance healthcare access in an increasingly digital world . Inequity is defined by the World Health Organization as “ avoidable or remediable differences among groups of people , whether those groups are defined socially , economically , demographically , or geographically .” 1 There has been an increasing push on both the state and national level to advance telemedicine in efforts to ensure rural America has access to healthcare . Legislation and investments have been slow to provide the adequate access to this digital health ecosystem that has been developing for the past two decades . In the pandemic-induced rush to approve telemedicine and move toward a digital health ecosystem , the metropolitan-centered industry professional class has once again failed to think about digital health equity in rural communities .
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the inequality that underscores many of rural West Virginia ’ s healthcare systems . Rural areas were already at a disadvantage . Rural hospitals are consistently understaffed and plagued with dire financial problems . Those living in rural communities experience higher rates of chronic disease and illnesses — especially rural people of color . Rural West Virginia was not prepared for a modern pandemic . Without much warning , a massive shift toward telehealth was thrust upon the rural communities that have been among the most impacted by the pandemic . This is an unfortunate consequence of the modern digital system that has been slow to bring rural West Virginia into the fold as the rest of the healthcare industry continues into the information age .
Digital health equity must be a central focus of healthcare professionals if there is any chance to achieve an inclusive and equitable healthcare industry in West Virginia . Ensuring rural West Virginians are not left behind in digital health will be the challenge of the decade for the Mountain State .
The most crucial step in creating equitable healthcare in West Virginia is providing technology access . Technology access includes advocating for high-speed internet that is affordable in all regions of the state . However , this alone is insufficient . Many rural West Virginians may not have the technology to take advantage of increased internet access . Therefore , where possible , healthcare systems and the state government should work together to create safe , private technology access points for rural populations in traditionally underserved communities . This can provide additional surety that housing-insecure persons in our rural areas still have safe , private places to access telemedicine and obtain treatment .
Another vital step in creating equitable healthcare in West Virginia is advancing digital health literacy . The move toward digital health will only accelerate , thus it is imperative the industry prepares rural patients with the tools and knowledge to engage
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