Case Study Comparison: Limitations in Telehealth Relating to Poverty and Family Support

Abstract

Telehealth appointments have grown in popularity due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Three cases presented in this article show several different perspectives where telehealth was utilized. For the first patient, appointments were successfully completed via telehealth; however, the patient's family opted to continue with an unsecure internet connection at a local laundromat. For the second patient, a stable internet connection could not be obtained in his home, thus making telehealth appointments unavailable. The caregiver of this patient ended up driving to the clinic to have adjustments made in person. For the third patient, telehealth appointments were unavailable due to unstable internet connections as well as difficulty setting up video interpreting services. These cases highlight the idea that telehealth can be incredibly beneficial, when used correctly. For some, the option to attend appointments virtually gives them access to specialists that otherwise may not be available. For other patients, aspects such as access to smart devices and steady internet access must be considered to ensure a successful connection. The hope is that this article sheds light on some of the potential setbacks that can come from the use of telehealth appointments in a practice and provides discussion regarding for whom telehealth may be appropriate, even in pediatric patients. After reading this article, readers should be able to discuss ways in which there could be solutions for these barriers that may prevent some patients from utilizing these types of virtual appointments.

Keywords

telehealth - pediatric - barriers to healthcare - socioeconomics

Publication History

Article published online:
02 August 2021

• References

• 1 Health Resources and Services Administration. What is telehealth?. 2021 . Accessed March 12, 2021 at: https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/understanding-telehealth/
• 2 Jiang W, Magit AE, Carvalho D. Equal access to telemedicine during COVID-19 pandemic: a pediatric otolaryngology perspective. Laryngoscope 2020; 00: 1-5
• 3 Wang LYT, Low TT, Yeo TJ. Telehealth in COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease-Ensuring equitable care. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2020; 49 (11) 902-904
• 4 Lasser KE, Himmelstein DU, Woolhandler S. Access to care, health status, and health disparities in the United States and Canada: results of a cross-national population-based survey. Am J Public Health 2006; 96 (07) 1300-1307
• 5 Loignon C, Hudon C, Goulet É. et al. Perceived barriers to healthcare for persons living in poverty in Quebec, Canada: the EQUIhealThY project. Int J Equity Health 2015; 14 (04) 4
• 6 Swanepoel W, Clark JL, Koekemoer D. et al. Telehealth in audiology: the need and potential to reach underserved communities. Int J Audiol 2010; 49 (03) 195-202
• 7 Vogels E, Perrin A, Rainie L, Anderson M. 53 percent of Americans say the internet has been essential during the COVID-19 outbreak. Pew Research Center. 2020 . Accessed March 14, 2021 at: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/04/30/53-of-americans-say-the-internet-has-been-essential-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/
• 8 Wolfers J. The unemployment rate is probably around 13 percent. The New York Times. 2020 . Accessed March 12, 2021 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/upshot/coronavirus-jobless-rate-great-depression.html
• 9 Woo Baidal JA, Chang J, Hulse E, Turetsky R, Parkinson K, Rausch JC. Zooming toward a telehealth solution for vulnerable children with obesity during coronavirus disease 2019. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2020; 28 (07) 1184-1186