Identifying and addressing social determinants of health has become a priority for many hospitals and health systems across the country. While organizations are often focused on overcoming issues such as poor transportation, access to services and health insurance coverage, less of an emphasis is placed on the “digital divide”—that is, poor technological access and digital proficiency.
Due to the dramatic shift to digital solutions for healthcare due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital leaders and staff must identify the digital divide among the patients they serve, as well as promote access and digital skills that patients need to support their healthcare.
In this report, Closing the digital divide to promote equitable care, innovative practices related to measuring the digital divide among patients, promoting digital health literacy, and enhancing patient access to the internet and electronic devices are highlighted to help organizations bridge the digital divide for their patients.