November 3, 2022
With healthcare services and health information increasingly moving online, access to this type of care requires digital literacy skills. We know that some of the populations we serve at Hennepin Healthcare have challenges when it comes to digital literacy and access.
- 16% of American adults have gaps in their digital literary skills therefore limitations on their device (laptop, tablet, mobile) use.
- 47% of adults aged 50 – 80 have concerns about using technology for healthcare/telehealth.
- 38% of older Americans can’t access telehealth visits, mainly due to technology experience.
- More than 12% of US households do not have internet service due to limited access (some rural with no access), affordability, or no interest.
- Utilization of virtual care is highly correlated with income level.
- Non-white and non-English speaking patients use virtual care far less than their white counterparts and site digital literacy and access as the primary barriers.
- Households earning less than $30k per year have a computer, compared to 94% of households making over $100k
- 18 million households in America do not have internet access
- Digital redlining is a real threat to certain urban communities
So how do we close this gap? (more…)