Recent policy decisions have set back digital health equity, but health systems could still take steps to sustain and expand upon previous gains, according to a Health Affairs policy brief.
Here are five things to know from the Jan. 22 article by a digital health equity consultant and a clinical informaticist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center:
1. Digital inclusion underpins access to care, education, employment and social services, magnifying its impact on health equity, the authors argue. Without broadband or digital skills, patients can’t fully engage with telehealth, portals or remote monitoring — even when those tools are widely available.
2. Despite years of investment, about 23% of U.S. households do not have a broadband subscription at home, limiting access to telehealth and digital care tools — especially for low-income, rural and older populations.
3. Roughly 23 million U.S. adults do not use the internet at all, creating a hard stop for digital-first healthcare strategies and raising concerns about who is left behind as systems scale virtual care.
4. A analysis by the Federal Communications Commission found counties with higher broadband availability had nearly 10% lower diabetes prevalence than counties with lower access — underscoring that connectivity gaps correlate with measurable health outcomes, not just convenience.
5. Health systems should train staff to screen patients for digital readiness then fill those gaps themselves or through community partners, and ensure that tech tools are codesigned alongside users facing digital barriers.
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
